Being Human

I think before I am.
I am before I do.
I am soul before I am dressed in fresh flesh.
I am remade whole before I’m born again.

I’m waterborne before I’m airborne by arms bearing arms.
I’m carried as hand luggage before I can carry myself.

I hold myself up before I can carry you, my child.
I hold you close before I lose you to your being.
I let you go before I let myself go to ground, spent.
I am not what broken thing I think I was before.
I am before and I am ever after now.
I have always been human before.

I wear myself thin before the crowds.
I am not what I am - before I was, I will be again.