Grandma had wisdom to impart,
but not everyone made time to listen.
She lived downstairs in her daughter’s home.
As she lay in her bed at night,
she listened for the beating of her heart.
Melodies stole their way to her
and rhythms beat a path.

Little black specs
Curled hairs in a pile between her feet
A tear might have fallen down her cheek
But there was no moisture left in her body
Instead, a drop of blood fell upon the hairs [pulled from her skin]
As if in an effort to mask the results of
Her humiliation

Gloria sat beside the kitchen window
watching snow fall over sycamores
What could she hope for, 
some good news brought by mail? 
An unexpected call? 

I peed on a stick
…and a cross appeared.

A child to come.
A child when I was told I could never have one.

I talk about the soul a lot

The soul being tarnished and how it can never return to its once innocent state

To her it felt like a Category 5 tornado blasting through her psyche without warning

i was sexualized at work
by a drunk man
who told his buddy that i had,
"nice assets";

When I quit scrubbing our snot-green stove
he bought me a brand new range to roam
and a refrigerator-freezer that stood side by side
closer than we ever did.

Wise, 
but still lost,
And so far from being put together

Your hands are cold.
Your chest some sort of gracious cave
With you, the seasons collide,
and I'm not sure why..