What to do with this knowledge that our living is not guaranteed?

Perhaps one day you touch the young branch



of something beautiful. & it grows & grows



despite your birthdays & the death certificate,



& it one day shades the heads of something beautiful



or makes itself useful to the nest. Walk out



of your house, then, believing in this.



Nothing else matters.







All above us is the touching



of strangers & parrots,



some of them human,



some of them not human.







Listen to me. I am telling you



a true thing. This is the only kingdom.



The kingdom of touching;



the touches of the disappearing, things.





