Sometimes I just want
to sit down in the
middle of my life,
as though it were
a good mud puddle
or a sand box.
Just put myself
right smack down
in it, where I can
roll around, rub it
on, smear it across
my face.

Sometimes I just want
to watch its parts,
the way a mother studies
her baby’s toes,
all the little details
you marvel at,
and can’t take credit
for.

Sometimes I just want
to sit right down
in the middle of my
life, get up real
close so I can smell
its skin. Know what
it had for dinner.
Sometimes livin’ it
just ain’t close
enough,
for a kinesthetic
girl like me,
sometimes I just want
to swallow it whole
without a tooth mark.

Sometimes I just want
to wrap it up in one
of my scarves and tie
it so close to my body
that it can’t ever
slip away.
Sometimes I just want
to sit right down
in the middle of my life
and watch all its
little miracles
I can’t take
any credit for.

11/10/99