essences and accidents

I had a dream, Emily,

you and I were sitting still

in an abandoned train car

watching the traffic go by outside,

reminiscing of different times.

the face in your hand was mine

as I declined an invitation to travel

oversees with you next August

tearfully, because I miss you so

and I would not let go.

I blink my eyes,

it’s not the traffic outside going by,

it’s you and I.

the train is not abandoned, it’s on its way to

Somewhere,

and it is everything outside of us that is

Motionless.

-december 2022