What I learned in tai chi today
Lauren Leach
“...pass your hands over the back of your thighs”
Freeze.
(grandmother’s house,
the smell of grandfather’s cigarette hands,
the whispered hail mary full of grace)
Where the hell am I?
(mother said “don’t let anyone touch you
between your neck and your knees”,
the smell of grandfather’s)
“...your hand is on your left thigh, and”
(holy mary mother of god,
my grandfather’s cigarette hands)
Try to regain control.
(pray for us sinners,
my grandfather’s cigarette hands on my thighs)
“...ok. Now are we ready?”
(now and at the hour of our death)
