i found a book in the garden this morning
the cover boasted two letters-
a bold font
and messy handwriting
like a child trying to prove
that he knew what he was saying-
"us"

the roses thorns cut me when i dug for it
but the blood
shone like smiling rubies
and it didn't hurt
and the earth
under my fingernails
smelled like youth

i found dried red dots
on the first page of the chapter entitled
"where have you been all my life"
and i noticed i wasn't the only one
who felt this way