A Girl Elsewhere

Her mind was in Hawaii

Dancing under waterfalls,

Wandering through rainforests,

Picking tropical flowers and

Putting them in her hair,

Simmering on sandy beaches,

And gazing at the stars.

Her heart was in Normandy

Eating crepes and sipping lattes,

Strolling through spring green fields

And along lazy river banks,

Kissing the walls of castles,

And scooping up scallop shells,

Soaking up French syllables.

Her hands were in her pockets,

High-fiving friends and

Running through her lover's hair,

Sewing, cooking, washing,

Punching, tearing, scratching,

Caressing and confessing,

Catching the very first drops of rain.

Her feet were on the streets of Seattle

Tapping to the rhythm of the bass,

Shuffling in out of the rain,

Dodging puddles and strangers,

Observing art and sculptures, 

Chasing down a taxi or her dog,

Embracing the crisp autumn air.

Her lips were on the edge of a soda can,

Singing along to her favorite songs,

Whispering sweet nothings into the air,

Empowering the impoverished

And scorning the injustice,

Kissing a forehead, lips, and hands,

And stone cold silent as her mind does the work.

She was on a metanoia,

Breaking free of past and future

To find for herself a presence

That would always be worth fighting for,

To reach sophrosyne, Namaste,

To taste the stars with her eyes,

And to put her frantic body to peace.