A Poem by Laura Aranda

Seven years ago Laura wrote the following  in a class similar to this one.  She is a mother of two,  and a nurse in Oregon.

I Am

by Laura Aranda

I am on my way

I am haven’t yet arrived and the in the in-between

I am that bliss you find in a mountain rainstorm

in a solitary blade of grass and

the relief you find in that luscious drink of water

out of that cut-in-two cola bottle

ripe with the sweat of your generous neighbor and

sweet with the taste of use after use after use.

I am discomfort

I am the time before you finally decide to let go, and jump

I am that feeling of nauseous anticipation

I am squashing indecision

I am (finally) forgiving myself

I am the dreamer that weaves hammocks all night long as you rest

I am the chocolate of indulgence and the rib of change

I am the mountains beyond mountains

I am the promise in a mother’s voice

I am arrector pili muscles of your arm hair

I am five extra cordoba

and an origami street gift

I am a child’s honest grin

I am dirt under fingernails

I am the furl of determination

and the magic of murmuration

I am untapped potential

a lotus flower not yet bloomed

I am one thousand Tibetan monks

I am the first breath of forgiveness

I am the OM that vibrates your body

I am lovers mouth at your neck

I am just press send

I am single most important reason

I am dancing with my eyes closed

I am a chemist on the brink of discovery

I am the corner at the edge of your seat

I am the fullness of exhaustion

I am bloody fingers and scraped knees

I am chapped lips meant for kissing

I am the quivering in the loins of truth

I am undeniable

forever unworthy

I am the thumbing of blank pages

I am your heart in your throat

before you say

what you never thought you could share

I am the match lit in the listener

I am the make sense

and the dew on the tent of this morning

I am now.