Same Self

You said goodbye to the
white-faced woman, made her the absentee
Left her looking at her shadow
left her by the tree

Cut your hair and bought a hat
tattoos creeping from your collar
Found an old striped suit to wear
rose your voice and heard it falter

Felt shadows trail along your cheek with
empty-hearted hope and grief
Ferns echoing your dry choked weep
throat rasping like winter's fallen leaves

Put her kerchief in your pocket
hidden breasts beneath double breasted lines
And pursed your lips and shut your eyes
gave yourself to new designs

Knotted your tie and tipped your hat,
looked inside to see,
That same self, white faced woman
someone you used to know, someone you used to be.