The aria on top of the building

I always climb to the top of everything

I climb to the top of mountains, hills

If I was born an ant,

I would climb my ant hill and live there,

and look down at everyone bringing in stuff

and I would be happy

just being at the top, but

I know I would still feel little

like when I climb the top of buildings,

I feel breathless, little and scared

I always climb, everything

But in the end

I feel like it scaled me, and I was overwhelmed

When I was little, I would climb the cabinets,

the fridge, the bins,

I would climb the swing-set at recess,

I would climb the fence and the trees---

I climb everything,

But the one thing I couldn't get over to the top

was being near another person

I couldn't climb over them

I couldn't get over that wall

no matter what I did

But I still climbed

I climb everything

Everything but you.

One time,

I climbed too high

on top of the highest tower in my city,

and I was stuck

I felt too tiny again, being way above everyone and

everything

Breathless and mortal.

I thought of how to climb again,

to reach you,

and I sang

"Che gelida manina"

I am a woman, but my voice is a tenor

I sang it out like a mournful cry &

my cold little hand felt it too,

and I knew someone finally got over my wall,

and found me

at the top of the building

Finally,

La bohème led me to you

and the little wall we climbed over,

sang our aria

of being tall

together

and never being too small again.