I Turn Around

This poem was inspired by Ocean Vuong’s eloquent and quietly powerful poem, “Torso of Air…” as well as Rumi:

I have lived on the lip 

of insanity, wanting to know reasons, 

knocking on a door. It opens.

I’ve been knocking from the inside!

The Artwork: I Turn Around

The Poem: I Turn Around

Suppose you do
write all those books
paint all those pictures
and buy that house
in between hills
facing east
wildflowers taller than the roof,
where you will sit
drinking coffee,
writing poetry,
and waiting for the sun
to shine on you.

Would the ghosts be fed?
Would then be appropriate
to lie down in the dirt
and let the winter
cover you?

–

I am
always looking east
when it is dusk,
waiting for something
to appear
in the darkness.

Now,
I turn.
I turn
like the Earth,
not blaming the sun
for where and when
it shines
I turn
holding no star hostage
I turn
knowing I am
the one who changes,
I turn
I turn around.