MOMENTARY POEM
Open Borders
I always cry when I leave you
no matter what state you’re in
at war with yourself or
celebrating your life
healing quietly in the morning sun
wrecking the night in ignorance
making amends or making love
you are so many people
but I cry for the one true you –
contentedly singing,
surfing every era
the you who lets me love you
I know I will always return and
am better for the leaving
hearing how others wish they could
love you, too
wishing they could see you
open-armed, ecstatic
I leave your side to remember
the soul of you and
the ugliness of your birth
to see the roads we’ll cobble together
gold brick and red dust, clay and sand
my nation, please soften your borders
my friends want to eat at our table
so often, they know us better than ourselves
who we could be and for what we stand
they bring dishes you’ve never imagined
toasts to the one heart we share
eye to eye we’ll raise glasses together
chipped, but clean
brimming with cheer
my love, I cry when I leave you
carrying hope for us both in my pockets
my cheeks wet with loss and true knowing
help me turn these to tears of joy instead
2019
From my upcoming book, Heavenly Bodies, Liquid Grace