THE NEXT DAY
Ray Heinrich
you slipped and i found you the next day
but don’t think if you are reading this
that i found you dead it’s just that there
are different you’s and if you and you get
mixed up what am i to do but go on because
it’s always necessary to go on in a movie
and those of us who must make our lives
into movies will recognize this right away
and become the first you and the others
both luckier and smarter will take their
places as the second you as the we which
includes both you’s and the not as eternal
as we had first assumed must continue with
finding the first you the next day on the
beach with your clothes removed by the surf
and your skin reddened by the sand rubbing
where i’d always wanted to but now you were
composed like an angel and could not be
touched as i crept away always the hermit
crab always in someone else’s shell and
you slipped and i found you the next day
