Lately
I have been careful
with nouns.
Once you name a thing
you have to live
with its name.
Verbs are worse.
Leave.
End.
Die.
I don’t like
what happens
when you put a person
in front of them.
So—
almost.
maybe.
not yet.
I have lived years
on words like these.
But
is a good word.
So is until.
You can live
a long time
inside an until.

I once said
this is ending
and it ended.
I know
that isn’t how
language works.
Still.
I have become very good
at almost saying.
A comma
lets me continue.
A question mark
means I could still
be wrong.
But a period
does not negotiate.
There is something
I have not said yet.
I know the noun.
I know the verb.
I know exactly
where the period goes.
I just haven’t decided
whether knowing
and saying
are the same thing


You must be logged in to post a comment.