ebb and flow
ebb and flow
except when a wave or two
or three impose upon me
washing over me, sending me elsewhere
a time, place, mood
welcoming me back, if only
except I don’t so much want to go
I swim a bit, try to center myself
back on course
back on course

the kindnesses can be the hardest of all
please, thank you, yes I believe I will
niceties despite the volume of memories
a twelve year old girl now grown
fifteen year old boy now making grown up purchases
seeing them, knowing
we are all what we have always been
yet we are different, altered, changed

ebb and flow
ebb and flow
except when a storm comes
breaking the dam
bringing the tears, the highlight reel
way back and not so far
someone’s whispering my name and reminding me
I could linger in the lightning
but I promised myself I won’t
back on course
back on course