i know

i know the sounds of my life. i know my friends by the sound of their footsteps. i know my dog by the sound of his bark. with my eyes closed, i know each subway stop by the rattling i feel in my body. it’s the same every day. i know every state capital. i know where i am. i know how to conjugate spanish verbs. i know the first paragraph of Their Eyes Were Watching God by heart. i know hundreds of songs by the first note on the piano. i know the way home. i know how much water my body needs. i know if i want someone around within ten seconds of meeting them. i know god isn’t real. i know when my shoulders and ankles feel dry. i know how much i need. i know sundays by the feeling. i know what they say about me. i know how that feels. lo sé, lo sé, lo sé.