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He asked you to make sure
that she got home in time—
then he asked you to confirm
that she had a ride                 He
knew several things you couldn't know—
like when it was she should
be going home                 You knew too
a few things that he did
not                 In this case it was
that the time it was right
then was not the time "Time"
said it was                 It was not
the time he thought it was
The time it was right then
was neither the time he thought
nor the time you really knew
it to be but you could
not tell him this                 She needs
a ride home he said                 She
needs a ride home in time
He asked you if you would
watch out for her                 Could you
make sure that she gets home
You said you would make sure
that she would get home in
time                 You understood—though—that you
could not actually make sure that
she got home because there was
no time and so there was
no home and if there was
either a home or time or
a "home-in-time" then that
was exactly where she already was—
as were you.                 You both were
right here where he was and
also where it was that he
wanted you two to be                 He
was in his own home but
he was also in h is mind's
time—and in this mind's time
she was not yet his wife
and you were not yet his
daughter—because—in this time—his
mind's time—he was a long
time ago and just attempting to
get your mother home                 He was
requesting your help and you lied
He was asking you to promise
her promptness                 He wanted you to
ensure that she always and forever
arrived safely wherever it was that
she was going because in the
time of his mind right then there
was a cu rfew and he needed
to get her home in time

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Copyright © 2019 Caryl Pagel All rights reserved
from Twice Told
University of Akron Press
Reprinted by Verse Daily® with permission