by Leisha Douglas
of the parts is still parts
unified in some other form.
Within us, galaxies,
though we prefer not to think of ourselves
as metal, mineral, liquid.
Cells renew every seven years, so
you are not really who you were.
You are always exchanging elements,
always becoming.
You insist on a self
separate from bird, dog, tree,
as if you own grief
and its companionable tears.
If one denies that another is part of the whole,
then there is momentum to reduce
everyone,
everything,
to zero.
Category: Poetry, SNHU Creative Writing, SNHU online creative writing