The Things That You Belong to and Those That Belong to You

Show your tusks! Or at least watch the heat bead
upon the body of a world that you have grown your skin in,
and elephant sized, convinced of the feat of something so small-

and this is what they've won by
In the way one wakes at noon, not wanting to rise from the bed.
This is what they've won by
In the way you suspend a distant dream before you
This is what they've won by
In the way anxiety has formed vision in your mind
This is what they've won by
In a language that has left you in fear or reluctance.
This is what they've won by.

So let the meat of your tusks breathe, with the song you were born with;
and let the mouth within the heart of your mind sing;
and let the heat of your hands build a bridge of song to save you;
and let the iridescent beach shell of the eye bring-
a jewel for all your struggling.