crown missing

cavity open—

i am deciduous

year round

i take my botas of copper

off

& there are my roots

i put them down

in forests

next to

the Atlantic

i ask

where is my house?

where did my

relatives

go?

why does no one answer—

not the Passion Flowers

not the Royal Palm

not La Creadora

i should know

my family tree

should be

with them

should be able

to branch them

to replicate my cells—

but i’m stranded—

i stop here

in my shadow

lie down

look up at the stars

in one place

waiting