Down at The Salvation Army Thrift Store on HalfOff Wednesday

December 30, 2007

There will appear, as a swatch of babiest blue from a summer sky; a sweater,
nubbly material that looks to me like great grandmothers bathrobe all blue and clover smelling
hanging on the back of the bathroom door.
I dont like blue.

I dont like memories either,
they sneak up when you least expect it and strangle you during odd moments, cause a choking in the throat and a stinging around the eyes and pain- chest spasms and heart-ache.
The best parts go away and dont come back.

I am not an obligation.I do not require a gift at all,
particularly one that is too small and a color I loathe
which you would know if you werent too busy to stop at look at me and really see me for once,
this flesh and blood formed root and stock and branch- exactly like yours except

bent to another shape, another love, a different life- an orphan in the middle of the tribe .