page 64

What I said at the hearing

I was born the year
Billie Holiday died
I was born the year

I was born

I had these children
and lost my wits—
I meant to keep

breathing

that thump like sails turning
is fear

there are so many ways to listen
and so many ways to speak—

how do I know what you asked me?
how do I know what I said?

I learned from Billie
a tip to ease the suffering—

once I finish walking over rocks
I can sit on my coat
and dangle my feet in the water