Memory Begins Elsewhere
Swallowed up whole by a tiger
Late, last night, was it 3:34 in the morning?
No one home, maybe the neighbors all want to sleep
But I'm here, I haven't disappeared
Just not sure if any of this should hurt
And there's no reason today to call an ambulance yet
As I think I hear more birds than before
Is that the traffic shuddering on by?
Outside the kids swing their lucky sticks
And there goes my mother holding out my only coat
Cheeks glassy-red, the blind-wind at her throat