I Have Been

I have been a teammate, 
a specialist, 
coordinator, 
director, 
founder, 
owner.

I have been teased meanly,
My knowing of pain — stolen.

I have been loved, 
lonely, 
longing, 
isolated, 
centered, 
held, 
heard 
and heard again.

Entangled 
for right and wrong.

Tired, trying, tired. Pained.

Painful.

I have been called the R word 
in tone and to my face.

I have been the problem solver. 
I have been the problem.

I wondered 
on question after question after question.

I stretched myself 
with octopus arms 
trying to stick us together.

I have been in family, 
with child.
Laughing 
just one step out.

I have been a poet.

Jessica Wallach is sn artist, mom, teacher, poet and so much more.  She believes deeply that the body is good and that the body works.  She publishes her thoughts at www.thebodyisgood.com

From the I, Too, Am America Project, selected for publication in the Amplify US Literary Journal