he said "i think
i'm born again"
as he raised the vessel wih the water, oh
above his head

i said "you may think
the first time you have been in such a soul
may be your last.
they will say that your skin will crack
and your teeth will crack
and your skin will be shorn and

i hope so
well, i
hope so"

he said "i think
i'm broken."
i said "your eyes have been
solid shut tight
since the last time you and she have spoken"

but it is not her break
and it is not her breaking.
you said i never change.

"broken-
solid shut tight
like my eyelids
a carriage of ice
over my head,
frozen-

eyes closed since we've last spoken."

they say
"the first time
you are broken
you can't see through the cold
to the end of your pain."
they say
"it ain't the first time
you'll be back again
with new scars, from the freezing rain
but better than before"

i only hope so, hope so