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	Today I woke up in my body 
	and wasn’t that body anymore. 
	  
	It’s more like my dog— 
	for the most part obedient, 
	warming to me 
	when I slip it goldfish or toast, 
	  
	but it sheds. 
	Can’t get past a simple sit, 
	stay, turn over. House-trained, but not entirely. 
	  
	This doesn’t mean it’s time to say goodbye. 
	  
	I’ve realized the estrangement 
	is temporary, and for my own good: 
	  
	My body’s work to break the world 
	into bricks and sticks 
	has turned inward. 
	  
	As all the doors in the world 
	grow heavy 
	a big white bed is being put up in my heart. 
															  
															
    
															  
															  
															  
                              	Copyright © 2017 Max Ritvo. Used with permission of the author.
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