you're here to do one thing

by Emma Cohen

you're here to do one thing.
for better or worse
or even for Okay.
you know it's true.
 
you're here to do one thing.
you know what it is.
it knows what you
are, & you don't
want to know
what you are
but you do
know.
 
this is the part where
you used to
apologize, but
you're here to do
one thing. you know &
apologize knows
what it is. apologize
isn't it.
 
if you take your shoes off
if you leave your shoes on
b/c the other way hurts
& you walk your feet
to the cement
the asphalt
the brick
the sand
the mud in the grass
the mulch
& you breathe, then
what do you know?
 
is the air thick
or dry?
does your throat or
your heart or
your belly
ache?
 
upper back? lower back?
the knees?
 
you're here to do one thing, & you know
what it is.
you used to apologize.
you used to apologize.
but apologize
doesn't like your mouth or your
hands or your head-thought whispers
b/c you're here to do one thing
& apologize knows
what it is.
 
grieve it. grieve it.
cradle with your
worker
lover
human
hands
the place in your tongue
where apologize
won't.
 
you're still outside or
you're inside. or you're
in the doorway.
everywhere, you know
you're here to do
one thing.
you know what
it is. it knows
what you are.
 
if knowing hurts, then you
know you're alive.
if you know you're alive then
you can
you must
be here to do
one thing.
 
you used to say,
"i'm sorry."
you used to apologize.
but apologize knows
you're here to do one thing,
& apologize
isn't it.
 
you know what it is, & knowing
hurts.
doing hurts more.
doing hurts worse.
 
if doing hurts, then you
know you're alive.
 
if you know you're alive, then
you know you're doing
the one thing you're here
to do.
 
hint: it's
be who
you are.

Copyright © 2014 by Emma Cohen. Reprinted with permission.