TALISMAN

Often, I’m not quite in

the school rules. I slip in

under the radar. I don’t

comply, but perhaps

I can be explained away.

I have lived near pillows

or even under them,

occasionally not seeing

the light of day.

I have been laid aside,

sometimes, as other

things hold sway. But

it is in my nature

to stay, maybe frayed,

with legs akimbo or sitting

in a jar. I am what it is

to be found. With me

she is never lost.

I have had pushed

into my threads, wrapped

around my glass, caressed

into my fur – I don’t know

its name – but it preserves

me. I may rip a bit or rot,

may bear the marks

that life has scored

across me

(and often

I bear some of them for

her) but because of it

(it seems to be made

of memories, hope, love,

trust — words so big, they

poke out like an echidna

alphabet — but those

words have become me)

I have an endless life,

I am symbol, I am

metaphor; and in all

these things so rich

am I, even so, you can

walk past me, see me

and not know

that I am there.