​A POOL OF COLORFUL KOI

circling the same pond over
and over again

and I am the one wondering
why we are here

tinkering with golden and silver pieces
like magpies
searching for something
to adorn their nest.

I pack my children tight
into their matchboxes
at bedtime
surrounded by soft cotton
so they don’t break

bluebird and sailboat
my son and daughter

when their arms wrap around my neck
it is still astonishing


​

(First published in the 2014 Winter Issue of The Iowa Review)