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The Body Poem Project: This Room Again

This Room Again 

After a girl’s night out, 
Belly rubs at 4 am, 
Moon-shaped back pressed to me, 
Getting up slowly from my bed. 

Usual writing chair and posture. 

Sunday with Sam, ready to vote, 
At the table before 8 am, 
Coffee and coffee cake eaten together, 
Walking to the courthouse in my rain boots. 

Usual writing chair and posture. 

Morning: Dressed. Fed. Bathed. 
Wrists fluid, all before 9 am. 
In this body, displaced pain, 
Growing silky hair covers my eyes. 

Usual writing chair and posture. 

A day off with Sam, 
Before 6 am he does dishes, 
Colder by day, skin wrinkling, 
Running to drink my coffee. 

Usual writing chair and posture. 

After dying my hair black, 
At 1 pm, the hairdresser cuts, 
Adornments restrained strands, 
Brushing the scraggles of my hair. 

Usual writing chair and posture. 

Sam beside me close this morning, 
Sitting cross-legged at 9 am, 
A squished pillow against pained back, 
Stretching release for my stiff limbs. 

Usual writing chair and posture. 

Sitting on the couch beside Sam, 
At 4 pm, 7 pm, 10 pm, onward, 
Empty mind, only minutes to remember, 
Playing a divine video game, my heart slows. 

Usual writing chair and posture.

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