64 Libretti

08 In the Next Life

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In the next life
I will fill my body out,
occupy it fully, stand up straight
and straighten all the twisted channels
between my brain and mouth.

In the next life,
I will say the strong and daring things,
be wild enough and old enough
to love you and be loved.

In the next life,
you will claim your soul for yours,
cleanse the muttering tenants of your heart
and skin and send the naysayers somewhere
where you can’t hear their mouths.

In the next life,
you’ll decide your soul is beautiful,
is wise and worthy of yourself.
You’ll let yourself be loved.

In the next life,
we’ll stop asking “what if”
and give ourselves an answer.
Maybe you’ll be the answer
to the question of me.
Maybe I’ll be the answer
to the question of you.

In the next life,
in the next life,
is the next life
now?
In the next life,
in the next, I
want the next life
now.

Libretto by Aaron Jafferis