Seattle

How to begin

twin-sized bunk beds lined the walls
scratchy, thin sheets
called me to the city
where one needle scraped the sky
and lovers painted clouds
with soft fingertips

my feet wandered through yellow lines
over asphalt and smooth cobblestone
the breeze off the sound
pushed me to the bustling market
among a rainbow picked sea
of farmers’ bounties

a weekend routine that became norm
trained on finishing with me—alone
standing between ragged pages
in that musty, corner bookstore
searching for someone else’s words
on how to begin
letting go