as a child
I leapt out of bed before my eyes
were full open
ran to see what would greet me
a young woman
jumped
landed with her feet flat on the floor
hurried to make a dent, press her person against the firmament
now I slowly allow shapes, sounds,
light—to dance softly about me, coerce me into
embodiment; let the sun crawl from my fingers
to my eyes, my heart, encircle my lips
that smile—
wary still
before embracing that it is, yes, surprisingly,
another day