This, Your Defiant Day

There are days when the work must be left undone;
the papers unwrit, the envelopes unlicked.

There are days when the dishes must stay in the sink;
the rice left to stick to the pot's bottom.

There are days when you need to put on a flannel dress and lace-up boots and go
without music, without route.

There are days the calendar must be left unread
and the quilt must stay sprawled about the bed
as you left it when waking for
this, your defiant day.

These are the days for dancing in daylight
and dreaming in waking-life.

It is a day for boots laced tight
running
away.

Sand, Salt and Stones

I keep my mouth shut

cause I am so far

from the places and spaces

I know 

that

If I spoke

I wouldn't know

where                    where              where

           to begin                 to go                 to come from

How did I come?

From the desert 

to the city;

from the mountain 

to the city;

from the ocean

to the city.

From where do I come?

The dry sand

cold stone

salt.

Drifting

always            d r  i   f    t    ing            s i f     t   ing

salt                                                               from the             s e a

stones                                                                       from the                 s a n d.

I am so far from the places and spaces I know.

This city took me

takes me

in

makes me

wonder

Am I wrapped or trapped?

In the deep fibers of history and hustle

I keep my mouth shut

because these spaces and places 

are so far 

from what I know

And I do not know 

how to bring them

here.

speak them

here.

Salt.

Mountain.

Stone.

Desert.

Sand.

Sea.

I wander.

Am I wrapped or trapped?