The History of Then and Now --
Now, there's never enough time, but back then,
I used to walk the forever south to north in that city-
Armitage, Fullerton, Diversey, Belmont- then back,
with an armload of old books to replace with new.

The History of Then and Now
Now, there’s never enough time, but back then,
I used to walk the forever south to north in that city-
Armitage, Fullerton, Diversey, Belmont- then back,
with an armload of old books to replace with new.
Back then, no one had to tell me that going
is even better than getting there. I already knew
that by the time you get there, it’s already been done.
Every June, the Greyhound Bus and Mom,
the flatness of Indiana, straight roads and Stuckey signs,
the sun setting across a corn field, the moon rising,
trailing night. I was there too, moving almost as fast
but not quite. It seemed the ride would never end,
but it always did. And now? This prison
of work I don’t love to feed people I do.
I want to be alone, keep moving, go to libraries,
spend time with costume, history and lies.
I want a window seat, a book on my lap.
I want to hear the click, click of a left-hand turn.
I want to go where nobody’s waiting for me.
-pen