Joshua Keiter

Everything we thought we knew 
was wrong for about 
a month which corroborates 
with the preceding eighteen months 
at least now science knows 
what it is dealing with 
but could not predict humans 
inability to process simple 
arithmetic like if you were doing 
something for eighteen months 
it is not that difficult to do it 
for maybe a few more unless 
you are entirely ignorant 
of everything you are about 
which is existing on this planet right?
right

Time is probably 
as elastic 

as events 
taking place 

on the other 
side of the world 

happening in 
real time 

we might never 
have seen

if not for 
massive displacement 

particles flying 
through the air

recombining 
into the past

Browsing the bric-a-brac 
wondering what still works 

where in the world this stuff 
comes from who arranges it 

with almost apparent care 
nothing fits as it should 

can barely make a way through 
the aisles of bookshelves 

to the purple sofa in the center 
just not comfortable enough 

to think about bringing home 
and the effort it would take 

to move from this spot 
we slide through the labyrinth 

past the framed newspapers 
of random-ish historical events 

still relevant yet so easily discarded

The living proof 
your spirit is 
still living 

I recognized your face 
among the others 
on the stage 

so many years after 
first seeing this play 
so much time has

passed since playing 
the difference 
in productions

no matter how
many revivals staged 
is this how eternity 

is rehearsed? 
missing each other
between the curtains 

coming to life 
with each refrain 
we live

no matter who plays
the lines stay the same 
the delivery 

alters our presence 
attended by memory 
of what might be 

when we share stages again

Still getting used to 
the rough ride between 
there and here 

no one is driving 
like they did before 
the exodus 

now they find themselves 
all in the same lanes 
inhabited 

previously by 
themselves alone 
time to make room 

for others although 
the road could use 
some rest awhile 

together alone 
itching to get to 
the next stop sign 

faster than last time

Lost in the air 
the oppressive air 
the inhospitable air 
the unwelcome questions air 
the courteous air
the extractive capitalist air 
the exploitative air 
the abusive air 
the pressure of air 
the greatest of all time air
the expectation air 
the hot air 
the distraction air 
the trembling air 
the palpitation air 
the hold the line air 
the hell actually wasn’t that bad air 
the massive coverup air 
the choking air
the weight of the world air 
the deeper narrative air 
Lost in the air

It is becoming clear 
with each passing 
we only measure time 
by how little is left 

smoke clouds gather 
uncounted minutes 
haze over other cities 
unarchived spent 

breaths never spoken 
awkward conversation 
situated between 
the have and half not 

here waving goodbye 
not drowning hello

Children at the festival 
front row of the stage 
follow the motions 
of the performers 

effortlessly as if 
the combination of 
music and movement  
were inscribed in 

our being at the start 
mirror neurons develop 
as a song to sing and 
dance along with

Cleaning house
the cats do not 
know where 
their hair went 

forlorn for all 
the parts of themselves 
they thought
we were keeping 

they retrace 
their steps and shed 
an equivalent to make 
up the difference