I trail my fingertips 
across the jagged face,
dip into the scars
of wind and water.
Scan the puzzle
of grooves and contours,
scout the perfect path.
Crack to crevice to nub to flake.
I clutch the ridges
of rock, forearms burn
fingertips rub raw.
Toes teeter
on a limestone dime,
tremble
on the lip
of the world.
Pull, push,
stretch, reach
grasp. Believe
and breathe.
When every piece falls
into place,
it’s like a dance,
a delicate
but powerful
balancing act.
The art of
holding on
and letting go,
at the same time.
Based on the debut novel, The Art of Holding On and Letting Go.
Photographs by Dailyn Lewis
