they trapped me in the South.

two hands prying open my mouth 

they found stones in spite, sprigs of hemlock

thrown, shook out.

 

they left me for the North;

i found my bearings

learned to fend for myself with little bugs and herring.

my infantile feet spread for the earth;

i knew every leaf and yet remained devoid of mirth.

 

i think about it now,

how hard i have been to love

to catch, to understand—

and still they pried open my mouth

in the South,

in the sand.