XV

Before I coiled into this body

And fell onto the earth,

I was buoyed by a sack of stars

Afloat between my death and birth.

my spirit was a timetorn milk,

the sky was black and folded silk.

I trickled from one dark room to the sweet next, Dancing.

Alive,

I cross the threshold into this place of terrible beauty,

And I forget the shape of my own name.

Everything is gorgeous pain,

And Still my soul remains the same.

As I grow and shed and dance and grieve

Still,

The Night

Is my reprieve.

As my skin moves into beautiful decay

alight in my eternity,

All this sameness stays.

When I die

May I unyoke myself

And slip off this tight shoe

may my soul dance up and bloom away,

and my memories fade to blue.

Still, may all my sameness stay

All things in me,

And me in you.