The Body of Sound

 

Mary de Rachelwiltz

Originally published in The Evergreen Review Issue 106 in 2003.
 
If you live a lie long

enough, it will bear fruit

and become our own life,

you'll trail along the way

a cross to be nailed on

or a hidden love life

will grow into timber

for the tree to hand from

or the beam holding up

the roof over your lie.

In the end it matters

not much, if you have taught

your body to resound

forgiveness and to transcend.