A condition of perpetual departure
by MJ Griego
I am a woman in that I wait
Mom trained it in
Built my knees to put me to the curbside watching
Cars carrying people away
Faces warped because they’re leaving so fast
I love suspense
I love the bird in the stomach once gravity grabs my vehicle down the hill
I watch the horizon for the city bus to take me
(No one else is available, I asked)
I watch over the passings
Finally it comes
The too-far away heart
By that time, I’m on the other side of town
Locked outside our empty apartment, holding back barking
Like If someone finally came home
Leashed me in the yard, it would be an honor
MJ Griego is a peer support worker, facilitator, and artist. They hope to create slow and stable forms of change through trauma recovery and accessible community work. Most days you will find them in their kiddie pool in a cow print bikini, staring up at the rain.