Perseverance

(n.)— the feeling of flying on glass wings through a 1940s air raid, and never stopping to catch your breath.

Because to stop would be to admit defeat.

Perseverance

(n.)— the way you play the 3rd movement of Moonlight Sonata, first furiously then delicately,

Furiously, then

D e l i c a t e l y, 

A battle raging between mind and heart,

Between body and brain,

Between want and need,

Flowing from your fingertips at just under the merciless speed of sound,

Every note CAPITALIZED and p.u.n.c.t.u.a.t.e.d.

(every chord so agitated).

Agitation

(n.)— that feeling you get just before you tell me you love me,

When you wonder if the air has topped 212 Fahrenheit, 

Because your blood's starting to b-b-bubble,

And you swear you can feel the sweat on your neck s-s-sizzling.

Love

(n.) — the ability to play Beethoven in adagio molto without feeling a hint of adagio malinconia,

That sort of deep, deep sadness that worms its way into your heart when the minor chord strikes, 

And after all these years, 

After all these tears,

You never truly see it coming.

Diminuendo 

(n.)— that cavernous, bomb-sized hole in my heart when your voice gets q u i e t e r,

When your silent breaths against the back of my exposed neck,

So warm and ticklish and presto against my skin,

Grow moderato

Andante,

Adagio,

(pianissimo).