an odd offering [poem]

she was the taste of coffee bitter on your tongue
the brush of silk sheets against your skin
the sound of rain tickling tree leaves
she was an odd offering
easy like breathing
hard like living
she hummed like music
her rhythm a heartbeat
steady
she was the temple
and the altar
candle flame and incense smoke
she was an odd offering
of forgiveness
of murmured prayers
of the chance to start over reborn
she was the smell of rain
after a year of dusty stillness
the washing away of all doubt
she was an odd offering
everything and nothing
a blessing to those who looked with eyes open
and a curse to those who assumed
they knew anything
about her
at all