Habeas Corpus

Knots, a thousand lights, in

   sheer dark, aimed at my window,

tinny crystals, so mother dies

   in my sleep. The snow turns

coarse, goes out. An axe sounds

   where I'd never heard an axe before.

Breathing becomes dangerous. I can't

   help it, making me her, even

before I was born, her brain burning

   out patterns I follow like will

o' the wisps, sparks popping.

   I put on heels and find I can balance,

twist my spine, bend to get my seams

   straight on my own, no one to

call on, like she called me, sheer nylon

   turning on sheer skin under my palms.

I pull on the ratty musquash coat.

   I have the body. I move off in it,

eddying, trying to see who I am now.

   I totter down the street thinking,

one day he'll be sorry. And here I am.

   Sorry. I watch her getting smaller

up the road. I watch us both, till

   nothing's all there is.