Poetry by Kari Rhyan

You arrive at home
You focus your eyes
You smile, move your arms and legs
You roll over
You grab your toys and put them in 
Your mouth
You scoot on your belly
You are getting new teeth
You crawl and sit
You pull yourself up to standing
Again and again
You take your first steps
You toddle and explore
You begin to say ‘no’ to assert
Yourself
You invent imaginary games
You can run and kick a ball
Your parents divorce
Your abuse starts
You’re told to skip a grade
You start drinking
You join the Navy
You go to war
You return home
You change
You’re shunned by peers
You don’t leave your house
Again and again
You write this line

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Bio: Kari Rhyan's previous work, Standby for Broadcast--a memoir on the dangers of canned patriotism, family loyalty, and discount retail--focused on her time as a Navy nurse in Afghanistan, and has received praise from Kirkus and Blue Ink, and are widely available online. www.krhyan.com

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