It’s sometimes like divesting
myself of another
of you
I no longer care to be concerned
about your coming and going

this is natural? it happens with
lanky children who
grow up and move
their own boulders of sand
and we let them

But here it’s different
there is a deep, intimate knowing
distinct from that of parents
and children

Your signature is requested by
such & such a date, if unanswered
then by default our union is
legally unbound.

But our history; our family tree
remains. It courses in our children’s veins.
This investment remains
with
holding
on

Are you trying to figure out what
you learned?

   from this past year?
Are you trying to carve out
your takeaways?

As if to memorialize yourself this
moment as a statue hewn
    & chipped and shaped-by
what was taken away?

Or are you adding it up by what
you put on... like a sweater
on a spring day
    when the birds taunt the
cat through your open window?
    and it's nice but the breeze feels a little cool
      and empty.

      Are you trying to smooth the rough
      edges? Are you grinding them
   down    or    subduing them like
your hand rubbing over the wrinkles on 
      your bedspread.

  However you shape them,
      call them out.
    Let their workings find their
way into 
     your fingertips.
      Stop being quiet about
     taking and wanting and
      asking for what you need 
        from it!
   Plant it in your tongue.