11/6/2024
I do not know why
I wanted to be stone
elegantly draped
in garments not entirely clothes
something to behold
without the burden of being
expected to reply
to whatever questions
the adults had for me
about school or church—boring!
I liked dirt and bugs and swords
and silver dresses I liked
people who did not ask questions
happy to hold with me the shape
of an imaginary girl
always pouring water
or arms uplifted into air
as if it might gust us off forever
who would stand with me
in imitation of a boy
holding a sheaf of wheat
an embodiment of autumn
or crouch with me to pick
a thorn from a lion’s tender foot
but my favorite figure
by far was the stained
concrete angel
I liked to look at
with thin freckled arms
crossed over my chest
as if we were silent
slightly asymmetrical mirrors
I in my blue pinafore
and white lace bobby socks
stuck into dirty white
sandals content to be likewise
quietly contemplated
by this being made
in the image of a message
from a bigger being
I was told created everything
an image directly from the source
of all the love
I wished I could
free myself to be