{ Jen Bervin: You Were Vast Unto Others. }

[delga]

You Were Vast Unto Others
by Jen Bervin

date the paper -- it's your early work --
date the space -- it's late --
write -- be late with you --

write to get lost in the day -- get
the time from friends -- make them a
memorable meal and forget what you made
-- write -- we are tasting new peaches
-- all the time -- write you waste
nothing -- write nothing is wasted on
you --

write this time of the animals -- the space
of the animals -- write the dog who
stands on your foot and leans in -- write
how you lean in -- when you love --
write the gentleness there --

write what you said to me -- how far
you went away from yourself -- when you
stopped -- noticing -- write you lost
your way for a reason -- write how --
you come back -- how your body was not
made to do this -- with you in it --
write stay in it -- a little longer --
write what died for this space -- and
only what will live in it --

tell me where you've been necessary --
the memory in the snow-- the river
in light -- write you flow -- humanly --

write the precise points that touch
the rivers of energy in the body --
enter them -- and tell me -- if they are
still wet -- tell me -- where they've been
-- tell me -- who touched you all winter --
tell me who -- you'll remember -- in
spring --

write where you were chosen -- when you
were chosen -- write -- what calmness
was chosen in you -- write it on your
hand -- write -- you are not too old to
write on your hand -- write -- there's
still space there -- and you have been
in it --

how you unsettle me -- how you go
infinite -- how you come back --

write how our nature's getting a lot
done -- how the air gets fresh all over
us -- write what tender leaves are back
-- how they tassle and sway -- write you
are spring -- write -- you-- are
impossible --

write how you slouch over flowers and
mend things -- write -- you can't
remember what you planted -- but that
you're certain some of them are
volunteers -- write today -- even the
garbage smells good -- write it's
spring -- new york -- and you're not
done with me yet --

write -- how you spill everything today --
feel listless and berate yourself --
write -- leave yourself alone -- write
you are the laziest girl in town -- be
that girl -- once in a while -- write
it was once plants and horses here --
write what you awoke to -- the feeling
inside the thing you made -- how you were
happy there -- write -- be there

write the day -- you were here --
write the day you were most yourself
-- write-- I can thank you for that --
write you went the beautiful way --
you made time -- you knew how to get
things done and it touched everyone
here at least once --

write how your friend's yard -- contains
a tulip tree -- that looks like a
voluptuous girl falling out of a pink
dress -- write she said that -- and it
pleased you -- write how easy it is --
to do that -- write how you love your
friends -- and what they think --
to say -- write that's you in the corner
pale green and fragrant -- write your
friend said that -- about a girl named
melanie -- write how he included you --
how you are -- in the world --

write the dog -- pausing to shake --
the girl leaning in to smell that page
--the library -- the river in light --
what you're choosing --the view from
the window -- every window -- you are
choosing-- now

write the body of the house shines
around the house -- and you my friend --
were beyond --
you were ballast --
you were vast unto others --