7 states in 9 years—my adulthood summed up

in moves that kept me a little busy
to build very much I could keep my
newly situated self busy with.

My college professor would say

that was only the start of a poem,
but I don’t think he’s very
tired.

My college professor would say

not everything is worth saying,
but I thought he wanted a
longer poem.

My college professor would say

not to make my poetry
my laundry list,
but my high school teacher loved

list poems,
and I attended her
community’s school for twelve whole years,

and I can list
moves and transfers, like I can list
sayings and proverbs,

and I can count so many people
in her town that I still know.
It all comes out in the wash.

I build with the hands
that hold on just as much
as with the hands that let go.