paper squares

I saw my life before me

On the table.

A flat, white square,

A piece of paper.

I saw his hands,

Holding mine.

Picking up my life,

Folding, shaping it

In new ways.

His hands before me

On the table.

Inventors, builders

Making beautiful.

Would you fold me

Into a bird?

Do you know what would happen

If you did?

If I were a bird,
I could fly away from the cold-

With wings and no hands to hurt
Or to hold.

You see,
I've seen my life before me

Once before-
A perfect paper square.

With one hand
I picked it up,

While the other held scissors

And cut.

And there I was,

In pieces,

My own doing.

Torn and full of holes-

Trying to be like snow.

Oh God,

I'm giving

My life to you.

I lay it down before you

On the table.

A flat, white square

For a great inventor.

You hold my hand

Like he does,

But love me

More completely.

You've seen the snowflake

And remade me.

Folding, shaping tenderly,

Teaching patience,

The art of trusting-
The art of taking

Our hands off the table.

We're held in yours,
Perfect paper squares-
White as snow
And almost birds.