I was once a flowering branch

And tonguekissed

The pride of Amarillo

Leaning across a sticky table in a smoky petite jazz spot in the val de grace

Yes i once clowned at a large mirror in a dim vestibule with the moonglow oracle of bangladesh

I once sat atop a mountain of winter rubble at abandoned coney island and i once dove naked into cheat lake just as the first thunder broke and rolled down the valley like gods bowling ball and the rain came down in sheets so cold it was shelter we sought in the warmer lake water

And i threw back my head and laughed

And all this before i was

Your mother