Memories

 Like a sea anemone that

retracts at the slightest touch

but immobile like a tree

Extra neuronal attachments

Dendrites that receive all the incoming signals

I try to catalog, categorize, and respond

in real time. Which is too much. 

Knowing I am in like too much.

But the salt water and invisible nutrients

must be constantly absorbed

all life-giving 

just grieving 

In Germany, my friend would say headache 

with a "ch" sound like "change" or "chapter"

Each headache carries a reminder of Petra, 

our visit to Bremen, saying good-bye forever,

her small gift and then 

returning to the US, separated, the cult-time

that followed.

Would I have it be different?