A few blocks south
of Carl Fischer‘s clock,
Forbes‘ distant sound
cut to thistles shimmering
on a hillside afternoon hike.
For a moment I walked
in two places, two times:
University of Edinburgh, 1998
Cooper Square, 2012.
***
I paid a 50-cent fare
to rest in Rosenthal’s presence
as bagpipe drones and trills
echoed off buildings
instead of mountains,
and bikes parked
instead of butterflies.
***
I danced again
in a kaleidoscope of tartans
as my brain aligned
with the rhythmic mood swings
of Forbes-time,
whence I became absent
from all other times.
Ars Arvole 