Intertextuality

It's how you bring your sadness
to someone else's story
then miss a key point,

dwelling, as you are, on memories,
the grave goods you buried
and meant to forget.

But someone brings in the backhoe
and you begin excavating,
then lose the plot

except where it corresponds
to your own story, proof
that your life is predestined,

a patterned course. You thought
you'd changed, become a better
listener, but the story is over

and you can't remember
the ending. Those precious
fragments you've unearthed

still catch the light.
If only they were whole again
and belonged only to you.

Copyright © 2004 Tami Haaland All rights reserved
from 5AM
Reprinted by Verse Daily® with permission