96.
today we woke up
both of us barrel chested
we looked at each other
& laughed & laughed & laughed
it was funny to see that both of us
had lost all evidence of youth
we laughed until we ached all over
& then it became clear:
our belly muscles
the ones that used to hurt from laughter
had now relaxed, opened up
& now we have more space for grief
& now we know each other
as containments for much more
97.
one mother:
this is who you are
this is where you’re going
& this is how, when & why
another mother:
this is who you are
this is where you’re going
& this is what will happen
how, when and why
98.
yesterday my skin became the sky
& you remarked:
the sky is so blue
last night you said:
the stars are so bright
you couldn’t see that i was imploding
that the stars are a sign
that there will be no sky tomorrow
99.
Having already
lost a beautiful string of lettering
that had formed into a poem
I should take the day off
These days
lost poems remain lost
a requiem to one is the best I can do
100.
It’s the movement, isn’t it?
From a collection of recipe bits
to grinding, chopping, frying
steaming
releasing the aroma
from the combined bits & pieces of you & me
Juliane Okot Bitek 