Open the book of tales you knew by heart
begin driving the old roads again
repeating the old sentences, which have changed
minutely from the wordings you remembered

(adrienne rich)

The world and I

This is not exactly what I mean

Any more than the sun is the sun.

But how to mean more closely

If the sun shines but approximately?

What a world of awkwardness!

Perhaps this is as close a meaning

As perhaps becomes such knowing.

Else I think the world and I

Must live together as strangers and die--

A sour love, each doubtful whether

Was ever a thing to love the other.

No, better for both to be nearly sure

Each of each-- exactly where

Exactly I and exactly the world

Fail to meet by a moment, and a word.

(Laura Riding)