Becoming

You stand there
sheepish
bewildered
pieces of your life
strewn all around you.
What happened?
Bits you swore
were part of you
have crawled away
across the floor
are hiding in dark corners
refusing to come to you.
Scraps you never
thought to claim
are jumping against your legs
begging to be picked up.
What to make of it?
Give in.
Whine and bitch and moan
if you like.
Say that life is unfair,
that this isn’t what they promised.
Swear revenge.
Give in.
Laugh and chortle and giggle
when you’re ready.
Sing a song.
Dance a jig.
Celebrate the paradox.
Then gather up the
colors at your feet
the browns and grays and blues
the yellows the reds the greens
Hug them close.
Treasure them.
Make yourself a cloak.

You stand there
sheepish
bewildered
pieces of your life
strewn all around you.
What happened?
Bits you swore
were part of you
have crawled away
across the floor
are hiding in dark corners
refusing to come to you.
Scraps you never
thought to claim
are jumping against your legs
begging to be picked up.
What to make of it?
Give in.
Whine and bitch and moan
if you like.
Say that life is unfair,
that this isn’t what they promised.
Swear revenge.
Give in.
Laugh and chortle and giggle
when you’re ready.
Sing a song.
Dance a jig.
Celebrate the paradox.
Then gather up the
colors at your feet
the browns and grays and blues
the yellows the reds the greens
Hug them close.
Treasure them.
Make yourself a cloak.