reaching out
for a hand
amidst the steam of
visions
and of countless
misunderstandings
i was the lady
baring all but her
insides,
holding a rigid
baby in her lead
arms,
begging you to
look away,
to look elsewhere
to leave the child
to be
and to be careful,
careful
with the things that
i held

i lost it,
your glowing
lightbody
everlasting, gone
like a season
or a memory

a search for eyes,
a disappointment-
my skin
stripped and fervent
the child once more
misplaced and beaten
a feeling scorching
a mother
torn