i was born on
the day of the dead
children
i died right away
spat out life
like God
holding
tepid love
in His mouth
and so it started
all this living dying
over and over
swallowed by the sun
evaporated
turned to salt and sand
a great beach pulled back
into a dry ocean
an everlasting
erosion
but each year
on the day of my birth
I rise
to take back all that was stolen
all the wronging
all the longings
all the dying
to personify
daydreams drowning
love inside me lying
at the feet
bleeding
when the day is gone
all is forgiven
and a better version
of me is left breathing
if we live many lifetimes in one life
we die many times
do not fear this living death my darling
it is how you begin again
swallow the sorrow,
the soul soot
let it become ink
and bleed
~A.M. Troester, Lady of the Dead (Soul Soot Poetry)
