brown velvet jacket, blouse full
of sloppy ruffles, pants marked
with intricate designs, toe ring –
style is valuable, I’m jealous;
her insides stylish too, taking
refuge in the Triple Gem –
committed to advance, retreat, awaken,
both puppy ready to play
and disciplined yogini, blessing shines
in her long elegant spine

first consciousness of “Other” :
she went to public school but
you wouldn’t profile us as
different – no reason for it,
just a mindless feud from
nowhere with her and her
sister, dumb pranks like rinds
of watermelon in their mailbox –
I remember one surprising detail
fondly: she had golden eyes

One – I sat with the
kid no one else wanted
to sit with (although neither
of us enjoyed the edgy
company, at least we were
two, not one)

Two – years later I get
no special recognition for that
favor – I’m painted with a
general brush-off

Three – so what
(samsara waltz)