July 6, 2013Spitball
Physicists speculate that when you leave a place,
a party, say, there are at least two universes where you go.
In one scenario, for example, you’re a dog groomer.
In another, a free-agent spitball pitcher
who has gone back to Wichita to visit your family, circa 1982.
Neither of you returns to the party. Those two roads diverged
and kept on diverging. One’s a north-south polar orbit
for a military satellite and one’s the busiest freeway interchange
in the United States, a sweeping wing of rebar and concrete
hurling vehicles along a wicked curve toward LAX.
In either case, the party scene is basically over
for you. How many parties can one person
experience in this universe and any other ones?
How many pieces of celery can a single hand drag-bunt
across infinite varieties of soulfully flavored dip mixtures?
Wherever you are, it’s time you go outside
for a breath of fresh air. There’s a lingering whiff
of clover, and across the street from the party
some scruffy Standard Poodles are chasing each other
in an Astro-turfed yard. Your moistened fingertips
find the car key in the pocket of your dog-hair dusted coat.
Nobody is going to miss you if you go.
from #38 - Winter 2012