“Stay present,” 

He advises. 

Lovingly;
Selflessly

“I don’t want 
you split between
two places.”

I want to laugh

You see,
you’ve been with 
me, in the 
mountains of 
West Virginia. 

Along the shores 
of the
Great Lakes. 

I saw you in
the mouth of 
Mammoth Cave. 

When the fireworks 
reflected in 
the D.C. waters. 

I haven’t left 
your hometown 
in weeks. 

“I’ll do my best,”

I assure him. 

I’ve been trying 
to untangle my 
feet 
wrestle them into 
one place 

For over a year.