Jam

Being a poet

is not really my jam

the heart of my life 

is to do good work

in front of a computer 

and with people 

(which is hard)

and to imagine every

kind of future 

so I can steer this 

circus tent down

the right roads.

Behind that is

the home making

cooking and cleaning 

and mending and

baking and taking care 

do you have money

do you need sneakers 

I am the eldest daughter 

let me fix your problems

I know about duty

and what is owed.

Somewhere there is

a square centimeter 

like the stain of coffee 

on a napkin 

that is growing 

and it is going to be for me

and have things that I 

love in it

I’m breaking obligations 

off of me like ice 

on the windshield 

and learning that if I want

jam in my life

I must find fruit 

and hold onto it

hard.