AUTOBIOGRAPHY VOL. II the day before my birth I was in my house in the woods everything was ready I had my soul in my pocket I stood before the mirror in my white suit am I awakened yet doubting the hour of my liberation mother's heart was thumping marriage had been a mistake the heat was terrible would this birth be easier I straightened myself checked the time reached in my pocket and found a stone I had gathered by the smoothing sea its edges taken tide by tide in my palm the spotted mass flecks like black mirrors I bent close my face is in each speck this must be the soul I was looking for