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Shannon McClellan

If we were an “us”
in some universe far away,
there’s no doubt that forces act
as forces usually do,
naturally to disentangle “us”
and send us on our way.
You and I landed miles apart
in different worlds, respectively,
I in mine and you in yours
wishing and working for more.
What they didn’t know,
those forces, wily and unpredictable,
is that a you like you
and a me like me
are different shapes of an “us”
that can never cease to be.
A little piece of me
and a little piece of you
got scattered once, I think,
so that I got your piece
and you got mine—
each a little stubborn
to remain alone.
I’ll keep yours in my heart
if you keep mine in yours
so that when the forces
come and maybe pull again,
we’ll know about the many forms
of “us” that will always
find a way again.

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