enough of that, turn on the moon

I’d remembered it as a terrible thing  
when that switch flipped  
the survival click that says  
“you’ve felt enough of that, love”  
I’d remembered hopelessness &numb  
as a traumatic acceptance of bygones  
settling in for the long haul  
losing sight of the fact that this  
is what cages were for  
that we can be trained all our lives to pace  
roar to an audience  
to bash our heads against bars  
that have long up &left only dust  
and us, alone in the ring  

I was ready  
when the night lights came on this time  
turned my face to the moon &the world on fire  
flecks &embers floating  
glowing warm &unbothered  
no audience  
no bars