MdIV
Original
by Michelle de la Vega
One present moment of memory lasts about 3 seconds.
I used to sketch pages of brain neurons
Repeating fragile organic patterns.
Dark lines lifting off to sinews barely there at all.
Now I travel down those wispy webs
To where they break
To the gaps
To where she stands, marveling at the blue sky
This is what it is to be with
To grieve
Love
Panic when the confusion sets in.
Protect.
Memory, time, identities exchange.
I am. My name is. I started my whole life in your womb. A grain of sand in time.
And I would now take you into mine, to keep you safe. To grow you back.
On a bad day, or afternoon, or morning
I am gifted 3 seconds of recognition in eyes that don’t lie.
It passes quickly, and I will try again to find the fragile wispy pattern, to look for the rhythm that must be there and find the holy sync.
It’s possible, maybe I could find an almost perfect harmony to the song.