BIRTH • DAY

by Yuko Otomo

BIRTH • DAY
     for Steve

Life & Death
on a clear crisp September ending Sunday —

We see a saint’s back
on one street comer
& then on another

his face & rosary holding palms

Who is separating Death from Life
or vise-versa?

Not us! For g-d’s sake!

A circle circles in light
as people march
singing “Ave Maria”
on their unaccustomed tongues
standing side by side

We melt each other’s thoughts
unconsciously holding hands
almost forgetting how to talk

Autonomy for one being
autonomy for two beings
autonomy for ten thousands things & more

In praise of love (in silence)

We view & salute the world
as if it were a breeze
“moment” — ing through us

You & I —
light & shadow —
life & death —
like contrasting colors loyally
lay in the same bed at night
& wake up in the morning together

We begin to end to begin a day
to stretch every possible inch
of its festive lucidity