she was shaking and talking

louder and louder

each sentence was sifted

to a very fine powder

her face was wet and tight

her grip was cold and light

a strong wind could blow you down

I heard myself say

word up sister

a strong wind

could take me away



I said how long have

you been at large

they told me you were stashed

last time I asked

she said I've been out now

for all of three hours

I just resurfaced

and here you are

I must admit

that it has been hard

so far



I said skeletons are fine

your closet or mine

and we took turns recounting

the details of lost time

and when we had both

admitted it all

we threw our heads back

and laughed until we cried

we laughed because the world

is absurd and beautiful and small



there we were

washed up on the curb

as the rush hour traffic

went out with the tide

and I was aware that

with every word spoken and shared

I could see her shaking subside

I said sister looks to me

like you're going to be fine