In Time We Come to Be Whole
 
                                 I
 
The sadness of the street of lonely women
mortgaged, monotonous, the treadmill of the pedestrian day
like a graceful bridge held up by harp strings
they are the embodiment of part music and part steel
 
Mortgaged, monotonous, the treadmill of the pedestrian day
they measure the progress of each cycle in baby steps
they are the embodiment of part music and part steel
with effort they tune the instrument of living
 
They measure the progress of each cycle in baby steps
like a graceful bridge held up by harp strings
with effort they tune the instrument of living
the sadness of the street of lonely women.
 
                                    II
 
I am the imposter who stands on the hill
I survey the scenery, roads rocky with grief
ink spotted sidewalks and trees half dwarfed
I pretend to be whole while the empty side faces away
 
I survey the scenery, roads rocky with grief
bargain a kiss or two from the carnival barkers
I pretend to be whole while the empty side faces away
what a farce and I am the principal player
 
Bargain a kiss or two (or nine) from the carnival barkers
ink spotted sidewalks and trees half dwarfed
what a farce and I am the principal player
I am the imposter who stands on the hill.
 
                                    III
 
Compartments hold hearts, hold words, hold in
hold feelings, hold health, hold sweetness, voices from the past
doors open and close, mostly close as daylight ends
freedom from compartments is a privilege to be earned
 
Hold feelings, hold health, hold sweetness, voices from the past
you don’t understand your place in this puzzle
freedom from compartments is a privilege to be earned
caution dictates, you are skating on a whisper.
 
You don’t understand your place in this puzzle
doors open and close, mostly close as daylight ends
caution dictates, you are skating on a whisper
compartments hold hearts, hold words, hold in.
 
                                    IV
 
We stay gracefully connected through our sleep
squeezes and sighs, my hand resting on your chest
disquiet and my sadness defines intertwined
we dance an exquisite ballet beyond reason
 
Squeezes and sighs, my hand resting on your chest
our dreams the harp strings of the bridge half binding us
we dance an exquisite ballet beyond reason
I live in the memory of all my choices
 
Our dreams the harp strings of the bridge half binding us
disquiet and my sadness defines intertwined
I live in the memory of all my choices
while we stay gracefully connected through our sleep
 
                                    V
 
The reverence of the street of lonely women
living half the wondrous aria of the every day
bursting pomegranate seeds joyfully on their tongues
they are the embodiment of part music and part steel
 
Living half the wondrous aria of the every day
they measure the progress of each cycle in baby steps
they are the embodiment of part music and part steel
with tears and laughter they tune the instrument of living
 
They measure the progress of each cycle in baby steps
bursting pomegranate seeds joyfully on their tongues
with tears and laughter they tune the instrument of living
the reverence of the street of lonely women.