Joanna Gilman Hyde

The Tomato-coloured Couch 6:32pm

My First Incarnation

was as a sperm, strong

pointed

My Second was as a zygote

settled, growing

My Third was embryonic

at sea, close

My Fourth was as The Newborn Infant

face lifted to Mother

My Fifth was as The Astute Girl

Who wowed adults

and wanted to be a ballet dancer

My Sixth was as The Teenager

Who wanted to be a helicopter pilot

and do art on the side

Then I grew, focused, into A Young Woman

Who wanted to live in Nova Scotia

and married a man who would take Her there

to be near Her Mother

Her Mother Who Died

and left The Incarnation

of The Spirit

from Which The Flesh had

sprung