John A. Nieves


Litany: Dawnfinders

Why we closed the distance and opened

new distance. Why the sidewalk bisected

the field. Why a season before I was on

that train with you. Why we spoke of ghosts’

 

new distance. Why the sidewalk bisected

language from science. Why I recited

the train with you. Why we spoke of ghosts

between your fingers but we refused to fade into

 

language. From science: why I recited,

why you sang—how I hope to fit softly

between your fingers. Why we refused to fade into

easy silence. Why we said and said and said.

 

Why you sang. Why I hope. To fit softly

the field, why a season. Before I was no

easy silence, why we said and said and said:

why we closed the distance and opened.