the elusive dark : slow curveof a mother’s spine : riverbank            solid enough to stand : homea starsilver river of arms            my mother’s riverbend is subtle& soft : her arms wet firefly            light : home the far shore of her heart& i : the traveler boatless                        / /            a green fish rises from my mother’swater : shows me how to take apart            my bones : how to break & repositionthem to make of me a boat :            ribcage hull : femur mast : scaffoldingof tibia & spine : if i leak i fill the gaps            with teeth : the fish says if i use my skinfor sails i won’t need my mother’s body :            yes i say but who                        will brush my hair