Maybe it's because 

My skin's the color of the 

beach floors their ancestors conquered

So familiar to be taken

I stare at painted ceilings, I stare at parting clouds 

Confined to thoughts of interchanging forms 

Your skin and cheeks when you walked through my elementary school doors 

Determined to not let sickness stop you 

Warrior goddess—Mother 

That’s what I’ll do 

I will live! I will love

I will live for her 

Symbols of tarot
Lay out their meaning to be deciphered

Collapsing hopes on paper cards

I denied any meaning