a cherry plank a float in simple temped waters
she’s graceful in between all the right lines
a calm cool collected version of anyone but myself, she remains, I remain, all day
until crisp sunlight eats away the layers of our skin
and makes memory’s faded scars on our backs
until we laugh, cold water pooling around our toes, and remember next time to wear sun screen
hands held, close fists, around each other we sleep
and together wake up on sunken ground, too weak to handle our collective selves
I am merely meek, wilted in the morning
before coffee and toast
before breakfast television and all things considered
trying, failing, movement forward. face this day.
face this day.
but I can’t.
I can’t reenact the successful parts of me, or get them together in one room anymore
so destined is my destiny to forget what day it is.
forget what night it is
and just remain a sunburnt version of her.