The Portal

the soul wanders the planet for years

interlaced with other souls

making oatmeal

getting into arguments

writing books

holding a baby or two

we leave an imprint

we are remembered

we are loved back

then before we know it

it’s time to leave

the body worn and tired

teeth falling out

senses grown dull

we lose use of our legs

someone lifts us onto the toilet

wipes us clean

we stop feeding ourselves

someone who loves us brings a spoon to our mouths

“dying—it’s a bitch

a fucking bitch”

we stop arguing

there are no more words

only the delicate skin

which itself is breaking down

only the constant rhythm of breath

which itself grows rattley

we long to leave

but we cannot find the door

“is it today? is today the day?”

but no, it’s breakfast time again

oatmeal, yogurt, coffee, black

people come and sit

we remember them

we don’t remember them

we talk

we don’t talk

still looking for the door

rachel maddow is on tv

the boat show is this weekend

an old ruby dee movie

but one blessed day

tired after breakfast

we slip back into sleep

way opens like a sliver of sun

through dense trees

we make ourselves narrow

take one final breath

and slip into two dimensions

we leave our exhausted bodies

we watch the fussing and crying

but after the tears

the celebration

our souls having outgrown our bodies

the portal releases us

free at last