burned

you chase sparks

dancing

in the dark

in search

of heat

craving

the searing touch

of flames

upon your skin

 

forgotten

the steadfast sun

enveloping you

in nurturing warmth

day

after

day

 

one more

your daughter laughs
at my silly jokes
the way you do
loudly
without reserve
in spite of herself
and i am grateful
to have experienced
two generations of
the sweetest sounds
but am greedy enough
to want to know
at least one more

joined

my mother’s left arm
is longer than her right
there is an extra crease
on the inside of her elbow
about half an inch
from the usual one
that she used to say
the elders used to say
was the site of attachment
of a fully formed limb
to an endless arm
in a previous life

i listened to her tales
and afterward contorted
my body searching
all my joints for a similar
sign of connection