THIS BODY HOLDS EVERY SECRET

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This body is a straggler 

she's fallen far away from the herd 

tracking footsteps in the forest

picking up feathers and sticking them in her cap

These eyes have awakened

they dart and follow this nose

they both delight in the glistening dew

watching its steam rise with the awakening of the sun

This body has filled its stomach and moistened its tongue countless times
it's endured many night fevers and nerves that shake her palms 

kisses kicks bites 

slaps storms 

These hands have wiped sweat from its brow

This flat belly has been round 

it grew 

sprouted seeds that flew through this tunnel

this body left a body with a fleshy cord

This body wishes she would have buried the fetus 

where you ask?

in the soil under the tree guarding the door 

these lips wish that her tongue would have spoken 

wishes upon thirsting through tightly clenched teeth

The watcher tree stands before her front door

a stalwart foliaged soldier a witness to her

they listen together ear to branch 

if only, this body wishes, 

it could too bathe in the moonlight with her

This body is withering, 

if you touch her with the tips of your index fingers you will recognize her 

what this body was, staggeringly beautiful 

a rose left a few days too long in a vase of water

And these tired feet
walk run tread climb 

ache endure

This body holds secrets

it holds the spirits path

when the full moon emerges this heart pleads

beseeches this body to tell her the story 

from their becoming to their return

This mouth has always known a smile 

and these eyes, no one taught them how to hunt or squint 

these arresting cavernous laugh lines 

unearth the depth of her roots

the same roots that tumbled down her tunnel in the delivery room