I come to this life empty

And she empties more out

like a flower after spring rain

I am ablaze

and then

without

I am

then I am not.

Like this morning’s tide

Rolling in

curling back

And I in their midst

stand still

growing old

My face bears lines

I stub my toe against the track

Everything rises to meet me

then falls back

As a child I hid my little body

in the folds of green curtains

tinkled the brass keys

wanted to be found

Felt my aloneness

like now

for the first time