i saw god's shadow on this world

the other day i stepped out into the backyard
and planted my feet hard on the concrete.
i could feel it in my soles.
i looked at the sun until i could still see it
with my eyes closed.

there was a siren somewhere
and planes were moving overhead
and she was loudly turning the pages of the sunday paper.

she said i should think about slow time.
i said about what?

slow time she said. like when time moves slow.

cough cough cough

last week I saw a woman walking
reminded me of an old wallet
the sort you keep things in and forget about
could’ve been a violin for that matter

which is something I should pick up more often.
another thing I think about picking up but right now: the phone
but I don’t because of a past experience.


now I know better than to assume
I can sleep through the night
or that you will answer promptly,

or that sitting upright will help a migraine
but just rest your head on a cold windowpane
and think of it like a picture frame,
and the cars like so many landscapes,
and if you happen to glance my way momma
don’t like at me like I’m not coughing.