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and we heard she moved
out to the west
and even if she
stayed around
we wouldn’t have seen her

we heard the birds
followed her hair
when the wind blew

when she was young
she covered herself in mud
and pretended to run away

she was in the forest
listening for her grandparents

all the things she had
we clamored after
even if she made them up

when blood was thick
and our hearts sang slower
we beat the drums
followed her smile
the blue under her eyes

when autumn came
we all grew out our hair
to be like her
to be braided and praised
by the songbirds in the air

church bells
wedding dress
she got married
we watched in the trees

i lost my shape
i lost my shape
i lost my shape
i lost my shape
i lost my shape