– after Gregory Pardlo
I was born at the meridian of two autumn mornings.
I was born far from here,
where they nail husks to the door.
I was not born in this sweetgum flower desert.
I was born during a battle
of birch trees in the New England woods.
I was born at a neap tide
and smelled of scallops and sand.
I was born in rain.
I was born loudly.
The nurse said, He is trying to forget.
I was born to forget.
I was born to give last rites to fallen nuns.
I was born near a shallow pond
that fed tadpoles into frogs.
