Stop.

Take a picture.

Notice what

you see

of me.

 

When I say I need

to reclaim

me–

to find myself

again —

I promise

it is not a threat.

 

 

To reclaim me

is to sync back up

with the core

that is within

me,

that you

love to see.

That I need to be:

Me.

 

I reclaim me

by savoring

the morning  light,

the crumple of bed sheets

wrapped around my

greedy body,

the birds’ song

easing the sun up

from the horizon.

 

I reclaim me

wth the sweet satisfaction

of unplanned

adventure:

the thrill

of new photographs

from places

I have never been

before.

 

I reclaim me

by my heavy breathing

in the chalk-dusted gym,

the drop of weights

and shuffle of running:

competition

camaraderie

connection

to my body.

 

I reclaim me

with the gentle songs

of morning meditation:

my forgotten mat

whispering thankfulness

for my ‘comfortable

upright position,’

as I notice my breath,

and the silence

within my soul.

 

I reclaim me

with the tapping

of this keyboard,

never knowing what words

may spill out,

what I may share

with the small world

that I have.

 

This accompanied by

the gentle rub

from my cat

against my leg:

the one

who rescued me

back in Amherst,

and again in New York City

and again here

in Minneapolis.

 

 

These.

 

These small

but mighty things

build a fire

in my belly

and roots beneath me

to be a passion

and a force

in this world.

I cannot

set them aside

and say,

see you later

or even tomorrow.

I always need them

today.

 

I reclaim me:

Today.

 

xo