Branches Book

BRANCHES

Aging

VII You would think that as life goes on, it would get easier. But when divorces become as common As marriages were in your second decade of life, It becomes clear it doesn’t. I’m still not sure when the transition to this so-called “adulthood” happened, I’m not aware of when I suddenly began to look like a grown up, Enough so, So that children began to listen, to respect, to look up to. Am I worthy? Is worthy the correct word? Children always have someone they can question: Why does the earth spin? Why do people die? But where are those people so I can ask them: What do I do when you die? When you are no longer looking out for me? How do I become you? I don’t know how to answer a seven year old when they ask me about death. I don’t know what boundaries are I don’t just cross lines, I run through them. I am not a woman, But I’m not a girl, internally maybe, But not to that seven year old. I am supposed to be wise, All knowing, Knowledgeable. Then would I be able to look myself in the mirror?

VIII Watching people die is a tiring activity.

You don’t recognize it as a child, The amount of despair, sadness, life That is happening outside on your front door step. It’s almost comical, Every day some new News story about that bombing, Or that shooting, Or that tragedy And we,

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