Joshua Keiter

One night of waiting 
seems insufficient 
in retrospect 

given the dramatic 
pause of the previous 
afternoon 

just enough time 
to tell the story of 
the universe and 

how it was spoken 
into bits of being 
while the flame 

sputters in the background 
oblivious to us 
putting our candles out 

with incandescent air
at least night ends 
turning its back 

to eternity

The awkward 
of leaving 

a building 
in silence 

and darkness 
approximated by 

the meeting 
has been 

ended by 
the host

The relevant passages 
have obscurely not been deleted 

nor passed along 
with any degree of accuracy 

yet wait still to be 
uncovered by someone 

washing their hands 
before serving their neighbor 

turning the pages 
that say if nothing else we existed 

and we listened 
while all around us it happened 

and the end was never 
clear but always just out of in sight 

beyond the limits 
the frame keeps hiding just keep 

writing just keep writing

Low grade fever and chills 
all day for the first time since 
I don’t remember how long
never felt so good

I got my second dose 
of the vaccine this afternoon 
when I got home we took a long walk 
the power went out as we made dinner 
the second time since last Saturday 
no warning just a slight gust of breeze 
we made alternative dinner arrangements 
leaving the kielbasa and brussels sprouts on the stove 
and drove into town for a bowl of ramen 
and another walk circling the streets
by the time we got home the power was back 
the crew still working on the box across the road 
but the lights occasionally flickered
leaving us with a growing sense of insecurity 
even as my arm started smarting 
evidence of the immune system at work

“I’m going to reflect 
on the recurring feeling I have 
of impending doom 

We have so much 
to look forward to 
so much promise and potential 

of where we are 
and so much reason for hope 
but right now I’m scared

Please hold on 
a little while longer 
I so badly want to be done 

I know you all so badly 
want to be done 
We are just almost there 

but not quite yet”

-Rochelle Walensky

Still thinking about the dream 
I had the other night the one 
about the dachshund who still lives 
with my parents and sometimes 
pees on the pad if they do not
bring her outside in time to go 
in the dream this dachshund had 
a body transplant so that while 
her old body was dying in the corner 
she was still alive in a newer body 
athletic standard sized and stronger 
not unlike as my mother reminded me 
the dachshund I never knew the one 
who grew up with my mother 
into adulthood even though I did not 
make that connection my mother said 
it must have been that well loved 
family member before I arrived as 
I keep thinking about the dream 
it occurs to me that is what we are 
as we pass from one form to another 
our new shining body reminding us 
of those we loved before you came 
along even if we do not exit in time 
our new selves wait for us in memory 
it must have been them you were dreaming

Strange to update 
the old 
curriculum vitae 

knowing there are new 
things to add 
but having no idea 

when they occurred 
or where 
they fit in the grand 

scheme of things—
did February 
truly follow July 

or should all events 
hereafter have 
taken place in March? 

What needs abbreviation 
other than this 
respite or aberration 

we know is ongoing
being all in 
this together but apart 

here lies the days 
we lived one 
day at a time indefinitely 

not knowing the way out