they are roots, even if short lived
the first for a day
the unrolling hanging folding re-rolling
likely to do more wrinkle-damage than just
leaving them in their cramped case
still the charger and toothpaste and laptop
must find their niches
even to make it through that one night
next for two nights
now it makes sense to unroll and hang
and razor and soap and sunglasses
and book and bottles of pills for
the looming medical adventure
but then barely out before
being rolled and tucked away
then for seven
it starts to feel permanent
things get settled on night table,
on bathroom counter, on shower shelf,
on closet hangers, at dining counter
and after The Procedure, in pain
and delirium there are pathways found
treaded early for sights, sounds, smells,
rehabilitation, coffee, morsels,
calls to her and writing and talk with
the tiny remains of family
many of the bottles empty now
then folding and rolling and packing
and putting away and looking to motion
again, connections so shallow and fleeting
before tapping deeply into home
—2p