they picked me
up and put me
down and told
me I’d be found

the light ahead
was not for me

the sky the moon the stars
they could not see
that I was standing still

I ran and ran and ran in place
to chase them down–these
things I dreamed were
dreamed for someone else

the bitter fruit
the barren tree
the songless bird
were all for me

I wore them well
these dark things
around my neck
until I couldn’t breathe

I will not stay
to see them leave
who reads these
poems cannot
know me I
didn’t bury birds
they buried me