my heart is restless
my heart is tired
I feel as old as my body is young
my feet leave the ground
depart wearily upon the waves below
which slip with a thunder over rocks
distantly, I breathe shallow breaths
repeat words I will never speak
rehearse them until they are dry
and forget them as I will forget the grass
forget the rock I sat on
forget the yellow markings upon the bird
which landed on a branch (that I will also forget)
right before me
turned its head toward me
and before I could break from a distracted stupor to regard it
flew away
leaving me with this faceless presence
settled an uncomfortable, safe distance from my back
which haunts, which quivers
which I cannot forget.