It is
strange this
being not
like before 
but being 
this now 
being part
river’s bed
having once 
been mountain 
let’s not 
you said 
only swim 
in clouds 
but now 
let other 
things swim 
in us
not just 
a spectacle 

Friends and lovers 
these two things 
swirl about me 
handing me off
one to next 
like a bride
on her wedding 
day dance gleeful
laughter and passion 
joy and pleasure 
hand in hand 
such are those 
when love flows 
and friendship grows 

And this too
my favorite part 
when at last 
before everything else 
coffee in hand
blinds open Bach
playing and you 
with me watching 
as mountains and 
city emerge night 
low sun catches 
tall buildings and 
high peaks making 
both blush crimson 
making up stories 
like children do 
with sky clouds 

There’s a difference 
between denial and 
omission in denial 
your omission is 
public but in
omission your denial 
is private I
think that omission 
is more torturous 
and frequently toxic 
because just like 
opioids denial rots 
you from the 
outside in but
oh just like 
methadone omission rots 
you slowly from 
the inside out 

To know that 
you are different 
to know that 
to embrace that
one very thing 
that different thing 
different from others 
and their things 
is hard enough 
but then too
to shoulder the 
burden of their 
opinion of you 
well that’s just 
just too unjust 
it makes me 
think why then
of all things 
was I made 
this very way 
now I know 
so that they 
could point at
me and say 
never that way 
some people have 
to be different