I am a sign

so he said and pointed at me

I laughed at that joke

but it is also true

the question is a sign of what

may you have mule teams

may you have grandmothers

may you have grit

may you have love that carries you

(written on Sept 30)

did I ask to breathe when breath stopped

again and again but machines brought me back

did I ask to see with two eyes or four

with spectacles that got knocked from my face

did I ask for friendship in the solitary years

when I was left to translate this foreign world

I asked for nothing because that’s all I dared expect

watched as carefully as I could, and learned

now?

I ask for nothing still