to feel my breath leave
my wretched face,
to watch the spindly hands that scrawl
laments on a page, better that than
to hear my voice.
yesterday, i ventured in periphery and action
and in the embrace of thin, warm
skiing leggings and a thin cloth skirt
felt the doubt wash away.
to walk unknown a luxury, to be unknown futile
connection is a challenge with a mouth that fights
with self-mutilating spirit and
unstable vibrato.
tomorrow, a forward step
into familiar territory, breaking a rule
my shelter will grow three fourths smaller,
inhibiting the cause of my overbearing bone
and bestowing upon me my rightful four rings.