It’s hard to settle into this happiness –
—the tandem bike, looking at rings kind—

—the tiny kick, read all the books you can kind—

I’ve made sure, 100% sure that I was content,
happy. With the life can-be-an-adventure mentality, won’t-let
anything-get-me-down kind

I won against the stereotype, the pressed down
patriarchy,
the religious family-style expectations.
I won so that
I didn’t need them
And at 40, I was happy.

So this different kind, regular kind, this forever kind,
“I’m so happy for you” from others kind
feels strange, uncertain, surreal

Imposter

I’m still running as I leap off the cliff.