Stunned Awake

Not having the book not remembering what it said

stunned awake into sheets like tissue wrapping of the old dress 

dank from years’ saving

dusty gritty cement floor little windowless room who knew 

what children could get up to

crack of sunlight outside stairs leading down to it

push open the door whatever took place still lingering

don’t you feel this way about certain spaces 

you would not know what to say to who you once were

a life that could have resembled anyone’s

where your body led you too young to have imagined anything

rearing like a car alarm a sweeping fire 

over dry grass where you live now

First appeared in Four Way Review