If I knew then what I know now,

Would I have trembled when the earthquake

Liquified the crust beneath my

twin sized bed or

 

If I knew then what I know now,

Would I have crushed

chrysanthemums to a fine pulp or

gathered wasp carcasses until the sun blinded

me like the burning bush?

 

Would I crouch between the duality of

woman king and wet nurse?

Would I bravely await my red hot branding,

Solid pinprick iron rich–

 

If I knew then what I know now,

Would I have winced when you breathed through my body

Cyclical womb tunneling pink flesh to flesh?

Did you stop to wave goodbye,

trading this world for the next?