the door to this room
opens inward
bright slice of orange
against dust
your arrival
a clouded crunch
of gravel
your truck a faded green
it’s too late not to speak
and so I say hello
through acridity
to the man
who once
held all my fears
in his eyes
how much
of me
has been payment
for smashing that reflection
against denial
how much instead
survival
rooted into cracks
my bare toes tip over the
cheap aluminum threshold
as you step past me
pulling a can of beer
from your sweatshirt pocket
cracking open
worlds
under pressure
and sinking
languid into the threadbare couch
arms and legs thrown wide
who knew time travel
was so banal

.