Seeing it through

I walked on the 4th floor today,

where spines had scrolled designs

and there were more bound volumes

on science and poetry

than where I usually walk.

There was a sculpture of some vaguely

female form, round and abundant

locked in a display case

at the corner of “M.”

There I could almost hear Millay:

“I only hoped, with the mild hope of all

Who watch the leaf take shape upon the tree…”

And I hoped too to see it through,

whatever it is. Probably it is tree-shaped

if it is something I love,

possibly without deep roots

but strong and able to bend

as we dance- because I like to dance,

or I used to

before I became abundant.

I descended a few floors to find

somehow, the ground was not moving

though I distinctly felt the building shift.

Maybe it was me with the weight

of spinning odes and artsy spines

and pottery peering at me through glass.