we volunteered
were decidedly chosen and had to step over pink tricycles
dodge furry kittens on a back porch
send Sunday sock stuffed patent leather discards
laden with mud and rain
to fill with sadness out in a junk yard
where fears hold down wings
as rain beat down tattered shanties

unlocked screens slammed in response
and an old spirit was inhaling Cuba Libre sunshine
his laughter gave way    to birth as shame 
brushed scraps of truth from mother’s hair
fate was sealed    as tiny hazel eyes awakened

the smell of must and hate 
broom bristles sending dust bunny fairies dancing below the crib –
in celebration as older brother and guppies 
created flavor profiles for life
and as the boy 
was hanging heaven’s crown of thorns
on back road bottle tree sanctuary
a baby’s head lays upon the breast
it’s not wasted on veils and seasick reason

their skinny hands point toward water
where winds blow boat sails further out to sea
let’s skip sunny-sky rehearsal dinners
walk straight through chapel door reasons
white weddings aren’t for her

at times     it seems time has been spent
on long days waiting and waiting
for some purpose    out in the southern heat
so many turbulent waves could very well sink
a ship to the bottom of ocean grays

but wasting moments on tears
won’t bring back halos
it’s when dawn comes before midnight
you realize     all your stupid life    or really
just for a little while 
young girls are born to dream in summer breezes
to open their womanly eyes
where    longing patiently waits

when the lord made this girl
it wasn’t part of a bigger plan
bodies, and the ticking
ticking and ticking and ticking
the other bodies just keep ticking