I am
polka mariachi’s causing skipping heart
a lifetime of trying to capture
solitude on a foothill of
sierra Nevada sunset
at thirteen,
I am
a teen bride who didn’t know
better
love
existed
I am brown skinned from punished
porch restriction
ring a round the rosie of my own tree
foggy day dreams of hidden castles
and me always the princess
I am rogers and hamerstein Cinderella
my own little corner
my own dreams
of
saving the world
I am everyone’s friend
and friend to none
I am the one who drives fifty five
and hates it
I am drunken nights tears of hangovers
for too many years
handwriting on the wall
promised salvation
I am a poetess though I can’t say the word
sticks to my tongue
sticks to my heart
I am she who you see
the odd one the one who looks through to
your soul and sees value there
I am the conduit
standing on a rock looking to the east
wondering always wondering
what say the night
cresent moon sister
lightning striking burned cross necklace
running always running laced nike’s sweat brow
shaving legs for stubble
in anticipation of appreciation of womanhood
I am
she who wakens lost in the night
disoriented where am I if not
with you
the other half of the sunset
I am the one who sees beauty
in a grape leaf shimmering in dappled sun
insists on trapping faded roses in lens eye
I am
trolling for trout with dad at dawn
holding up the trophy I am afraid to eat
to clean wishing he were back in cold water
alive and the worm he ate for breakfast
from my hook spilt on pineneedle floored forest
I am the Indian scout quiet sneaking through
friend of deer and squirrel ancient call heritage
racing in warm blue veined blood
I am an MG midget coursing on pavement
stuttering up hill grinding first gear
red and loved top down classic
I am the one who listened to grandma whisper
rosary beads into the night on ancient knee
knowing her god heard her feeling her faith
through walls of insecurity
I am scarlet at tara raising fists of tomorrows red soil
I am the wailing wall of jerusalem
the pain of the world resting in deep cracks
the peace that passeth understanding seeping
into God hewn bones
I am stubbornness
and surety of righteousness wrapped in
dakes king james version studying hungry
for
signs and wonders
I am the broker of the aisle of produce
the food of vegans for too long
burnt from trying
I am the hoper of tomorrow
the dreamer of today
freestanding building of sheep to tend
a linen gown to be found
a bond to be shared
the love of my life
who knows who I am because it is he
standing in wings laughing as I swoon
catching my head before it hits pillowed clouds
of dreamsleep promising eternity sheltered
I am
he
working together in unison listening for wind
promises of paths to tread
regal Shepard at foot attentive to guard our souls
parkplace boardwalk risk dice teaching right and wrong
showing value in fair to children of heart
I am
all of this and more whispering volumes
in quiet yearning to find
solitude on a foothill
of
sierra Nevada sunset