First Light Static

Curtains half-open

Coffee gone cold

The room still holding

The shape I used to

fold

I woke before the buses

Before the upstairs floorboards moved Blue glass on the table One chair

pulled out like proof My phone face-down and quiet No one asking

where I've been

I watched the morning gather

On the dust along the sill

And I don't know how to say it loud

I only know I'm standing now

With my hands against the window Like the world might let me

in

First Light Static Gold through the blinds The dark had almost named

me But it never got it right First Light Static Soft and

alive I am not the shadow I left behind

Let the day come closer

Let it find me like this

Barefoot in the kitchen

With my face turned into it

There's a dress across the sofa

I bought and never wore outside

Tags still on like questions Hanging off a braver life I used

to pass the mirror

Like a door I shouldn't use

Now the sun is on my shoulder

And the color's coming through

And I don't need a witness here No marching band,

no souvenir Just my name inside my own mouth Coming clear

after all this time

First Light Static Gold through the blinds The dark had almost named

me But it never got it right First Light Static Soft and

alive

I am not the shadow I left behind

Let the day come closer

Let it find me like this

Barefoot in the kitchen

With my face turned into it I

know the girl who whispered Who learned the safest wall Who kept

her brightest colors

In a box down the hall I press my thumb through the

tape line Hear it split and let me breathe

If my voice shakes when I use it

Let it shake and still be me

First Light Static Gold in my eyes The room that used to

keep me Can watch me cross outside First Light Static Soft and

alive I am not the shadow I left behind Let the day

come closer

Let it call me by name

I can leave the old room

I can step into the frame First Light Static

I'm here, I'm here My name in the hallway

My hand on the door

Curtains wide open

Coffee gone

cold

I take the dress from the sofa

Cut the tags, and

go