“She was used to it…
having invisible footprints
in other people’s lives…
“leave nothing take nothing”
as if her lovers and friends
were national parks, protected,
preserved for some future
in which she had no part.
And truth was, it was easy
to tread lightly, to give of herself
and take nothing in return…
to love and be loved
behind masks and curtains…
safe behind demilitarized zones.
Few people seemed to perceive
how much of her was untouchable.
But still, she dreamed of more…
she dreamed of setting a flag
in some forbidden city of a heart.
She dreamed of complications,
of flesh puzzles, of trying to fit
two lives, three lives… more lives
into the same day of hours as hers.
She dreamed of leaving footprints.”~ Peregrine
Footprints
