Mirror

I accidentally took a peek
At myself
Through your eyes

Right at the moment

You took a peek
At yourself
Through my eyes

Are we two people or one?
And are our eyes windows
Or are they mirrors?

music is jewels
hung in sky between my eyes
water laps my feet

nonwidowhood

mom’s not a widow
she’s still married to my dad
even though he died

she brings him morning glories
he brings her one pure white rose

They never told me mourning would be beautiful

mourning happens most
when forest plants die, decay
underneath our feet

feeds new life and feeds new love
mourning: sad but beautiful

Dear (late) Father…

You visit the shrine I made for you
In remembrance of who you were
When you were alive
You like that I put rocks there

You visit my mother
And bring her flowers
You tell her not to visit your grave so often
You’re not there anymore

You walked straight into Love
With no fear left in your heart
And now everything you express
Is through that Love

When I wear your clothes
And carry your rocks
Next to my heart
And wear your whiskers
In a locket
I feel who you are
And who you were
Seeping into me
Down deep into my bones

Everyone tells me
I look more like myself
In your clothes
Than they have ever seen me
That for the first time
I look comfortable
In my own skin
In my own culture

You speak my language
A language of things
Not words

You gave me
All the right things
To find you again
Even past delirium and amnesia

I hope I can be in life
Half the person
You are in death

A Nameless Voice, A Voiceless Name

What is your name when you’re alone
When nobody’s there to hear you say it?
Do you dance and sing when nobody can see?
Would you ever dance and sing for me?

I have no name when I’m alone
But I have a voice when I’m silent
I dance and I sing when nobody’s in view
And one day I might dance and sing for you