Hand placed on the arm of curved wooden pew Christian Methodist, bible studies they thought this would help, I'm a floater, heavy handed will only shut me down My seismic waves barely ripple, a magnitude of 1
Restless fingers peeling raised pieces of wood, striping the top layer to expose tender pale gold A blue Bic pen was needed to cover the crime, honorific plaque God’s child
I can feel the ridges imprinting into the back of my thighs Tiny cross hatching in my tights, slick with light sweat seal suit slipping me away to drift, catching onto a trip to the synagogue
Dry taste of matzah on my tongue, the old comforting smell of the place All of us huddled in the dark Stained glass glowing, like sacred secrets only for our eyes I gave divine glass my spirit to carry
To wander into temples of marble, deities carved lovingly Temples of wood singing in bells and wind, a bamboo ladle strikes stone Sitting in mosques behind curtains, a gathering of geometric perfection Stunned to silence at gothic cathedrals, candle wicks swaying in the dark Beautiful spaces steeped in humanity’s Hope, felt deep
I breathed well
For a time
Dissonance crept up, remaining Like winds disconnected howling for reunion My path lit then faded
You spoke aloud -- if you cherish them at home they won't wander so far from shore as my stars vanished hearth stayed alight, barely warm
Still, I searched for the one -- not likely to exist I'm good at packing physical presence soaking auras, unbearably porous a wandering muse, through and through I'll be lost forever, I didn't mind home, foreign state gripping in all the wrong places a force driving for a reaction stepping away would mean freedom
Layered Fragments, Becoming Whole 