I heard her laugh
tonight.
It’s a throaty laugh, with gusto.
Not the shrill she
leaked when she was
angry,
hopeless.
She was home.
She was on the couch,
watching a PG movie,
howling at the cuteness
of miscreant four year olds.
She was herself.
She was beguiling, not manipulating.
She was goofy, not contrary.
She was strong in her weakness.
She has emerged
from wherever she went
and even if she’s far
from where she’s going
I felt tonight
that she’ll get there.
10/24/03