The Path
The path to myself has had, and continues to have many, many detours. But I am working on being the one I choose, every time.
we had
we had a date
and i took a long, hot shower
and i mingled w/ soap & shampoo
and i let the hot water melt my anxiety
and i dried myself w/ a fresh warm towel
and i bathed in cocoa butter & shea
i waited
we had a date
and i called you first
and we made it together
and i was looking forward to your eyes
i waited
we had a date
and i tried on every tight sexy thing
and i thought of your eyes
and i tested my stay-put lipstick on a pillow
and i read poems by june & audre
and i sat to meditate
and
i waited
we had a date
at seven
we had a date
an hour ago
and i read more poems
they were not about you
i waited
we had a date
and i thought we made it together
and we laughed & told story
and i thought you were kidding
when you called me intimidating
i waited
morning came
and you called
and i was glad i had meditated
you said you weren’t ready for me
you called me intimidating
again
your voice quivered under magnetic signals
i could see your eyes watering
i could see them shifting
and darting away from the receiver
i listened
and i waited to understand what you meant
and i stared at my hand
calmly resting on my knee
i got up to look in the mirror
and studied the shape of my teeth
no fangs
i examined the length of my nails
not sharp, not too long
we hung up
and i read poems by lucille & walt & joy
we had a date
and you offered your number w/o me asking
and you were glad i called
and you asked me where i’d like to go
and we talked on the phone for hours
and only exhaustion could get us to hang up
we had a date
and now we have space
space between your fear of my inspiration
& my desire to inspire you
space between your story & mine
this morning i smell my own delicious skin
i feel its smooth, buttery-ness
i hear poetry & love & resistance
swirling through my mind
i want to make love to myself
and i do
and i do
-qv