They say it is impossible
to fold a piece of paper in half
more than seven times.
After so many folds,
the paper becomes too thick to be bent.
The same cannot be said of a person.
A human can be folded in on herself repeatedly,
can be made smaller and smaller,
can become no more than a voice
ordering drinks from the corner of a bar.
The same cannot be said of dreams.
Grand paper crane ideas are easily collapsed
into simple origami boxes,
lives that bear no resemblance
to the ones we once hoped for.
I can tell you this with certainty.
I can show you the creases
imprinted on my soul.
I can explain the story
of a girl who still believes
that if she were only small enough,
there would be space for her.
to fold a piece of paper in half
more than seven times.
After so many folds,
the paper becomes too thick to be bent.
The same cannot be said of a person.
A human can be folded in on herself repeatedly,
can be made smaller and smaller,
can become no more than a voice
ordering drinks from the corner of a bar.
The same cannot be said of dreams.
Grand paper crane ideas are easily collapsed
into simple origami boxes,
lives that bear no resemblance
to the ones we once hoped for.
I can tell you this with certainty.
I can show you the creases
imprinted on my soul.
I can explain the story
of a girl who still believes
that if she were only small enough,
there would be space for her.