Who writes reclaim yourself
on a bathroom wall up there
with declarations of undying love
misspelled insults and bad jokes
scrawled on the scratched paint
broken tiles underfoot
harsh light overhead

Maybe you with your briefcase
and latte, foam blowing
like sea spume, or you there
with the newspaper and frown—
is it the headlines or your life
that troubles you

Or maybe you, mommy, trundling in
your bundle of squealing potentiality—
doctor lawyer merchant chief someday
something fine and good and better
than I could ever be

But now each day another chance
for reclamation, for taking back
what’s lost while you still can
another chance to face the dare
reclaim yourself