taught with tension

teach me how to tie knots,
and how not to. I want to be taught
how to take the ends of ropes apart,
splice and fasten, make two lines one
strong, to bind, or swing from, drawn
and taut, made suddenly fast

Now lay hold, pull and hope

- no, not hope

but trust: it holds. Because
I did it just like you showed
me. Just like you taught me, just
like you: strong
and fast,
and taut,
and drawn.