Trying myself on for size,

Feeling the holes in the fabric,

Stretched out, fatally flawed

I can’t find the thread ends to mend the frays. 

I soaked up imperfection when I was four years old

And now it’s dyed the fibres, it just won’t go away.

I’ll stich split ends together

Mend them, make them lend a hand.

A stitch in time for daughters’ arms

A stitch in time for my man.  

I try this sweater on for self

I try it on for them.

And when the garment’s just in place

It’s then the holes come through.

Reach inside the cavities,

Hug me through the holes.

I can’t sew you a new life vest

But I can see you through:

See

Me

Sew

Sew

Me

Through.

A Send Off (moses)

Cut to the chase wind and
Send me off swiftly, for
Tomorrow brings hope cloaked in humdrum.

An infant, I’ve been swaddled,

Cradled on the cusp of

Emotion,

Transformation.

Every step aware

Of edges splitting

The cradle rocking,

Breaking.

In my past lives,

I've crawled along muddy coasts

Crept within receding tides

All the while waiting to stand alone on solid ground-

(Memories beyond the mud elude me).

Stripped of my cradle,

Limbs exposed,

I am new creation,

Sent forth with mild wind.

I falter, failing,

Fear evolves, and

I see grey shadows on the shore

Hope in the fog, a flicker of light.