BIRTHDAY POEM 2006

It was a cruel year.
 
You were sick
much of the time and much of the time
I thought final thoughts
and I spoke
ceaselessly maybe
the words would stick to your smooth body
and they would thus become me
I’d float in your belly, a small fish silver and bright
until you birthed me in a river of new language, a soft
and necessary water
 
but we remained
attached to living,
joined at the palms.

BIRTHDAY POEM 2006