A Poem (trying to find itself)

www.myspace.com/darleneanitascott

 In Another Life

I might’ve been
a girl
who took evening swims in brown water
bathed in it in grey morning
decorated my eyes with coal
and never felt anything
you do to me
but instead I am a girl who dreams
too much
about other places and people
I could never be
who feels what you do to me
and what
no one else can
as they shuffle
careful not to cause stones
to pop and catch me
in the eye.
and I hear like there is blinding yellowing
and fire orange in the whine and wails
I am the girl who feels drums in my teeth and
they will not chatter as the pace quickens
I am the girl who eats rice
with my hands
because I cannot see
why I should n’t
who cannot talk because
my tongue is
somewhere that even ink
cannot map
on paper.
I am the wolf and the bunny and
the squirrel scooting and a gazelle
free and fast and
everyday prey
Who fears the cycle and since
the circle doesn’t tell you
when the curve is coming I ride
eyes closed anticipating belted in
like I can be protected from
gravity
as my butt rises I am
the girl who used to bathe
in muddy water
grey of morning and swim in it
evenings after rice and work
and eyes black with coal all
ready to not feel what you do to me.
I am the girl who has no
tongue only a grin and no ink
can map you to where
I have been.

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