Herbs are Supposed to be for Healing (a duplex)

I drew a bath with herbs to nurse you back to health.
I had no recipe then, only the deep ache in my gut.
 
             The deep ache in your gut is the oldest map you have.
             Cassia bark and stars of anise, stolen laurel leaves.

In the heated water— cassia and anise, fragrance of laurel.
Rain pelted the roof and made the inside of our room a cave.

             Rain on the roof, misted walls in our room of a cave.
             So many years ago you let me hold your hand like this.

How long it's been since you let me hold your hand like this.
I trusted time; I never thought time could be cruel like this. 

             I trusted time but never thought it could be cruel like this. 
             We touched foreheads the way water and shore come close.

We touched foreheads the way water and the shore come close.
There was a time I drew a bath with herbs to nurse you back to health.