today   I wear my white dress

today   I am beautiful & pearl-white

clouds    lilies   my altar    all my daughters


walk with me

or don’t!


I remember my dance steps now

                   my womanhood

                   my butterfly heart

I remember my city & his smouldering laughter


don’t cry for me     my beloved

river    take me home

like you promised when I let go

of my paper boat


now

my body        that thin boat

that late December’s moon

how it mothers still


today I only want home

today I want my mama   

today there is a funeral I couldn’t go


my own.