at first,
i assumed that the universe
is like a table at one of them fancy conferences -
where the screens are shiny
and the water is packaged for no reason.
i thought i'd have a place card,
one shade darker
than the cream-coloured tablecloth
it rests on.
i thought that everyone at my table
had their own too,
placed as if by magical premonition,
or something even more abstract
like cosmic preordinance,
or something even weirder,
like fate.

and then i grew up,
and someone told me
that places and spaces
are found, not given,
and that i could make my own
from whatever i found.
i had no help from fate,
or cosmic preordinance,
or even magical premonitions.

you see,
i found so many places
and so many spaces
that all seemed like home.
you see,
it's not all pretty cafés
and painted nails,
it's also smiles and laughter
of the people you love;
it's also rain and hail
and a grey sky above;
it's also wide eyes
and open arms;
it's your love that lies
in lucky charms.

places and spaces
are everything that you want them to be-
the universe can always, always
make room for more.