mary oliver: i wanted / the past to go away, i wanted / to leave it, like another country; i wanted my life to close, and open / like a hinge, like a wing, like the part of the song / where it falls down over the rocks: an explosion, a discovery; / i wanted / to hurry into the work of my life; i wanted to know, / whoever i was, i was / alive / for a little while.

me: