Duplex

1.

By voice, by camera

by tea lights, by night

by spit across a void 

you say

 

dark water, such dark water. The note is held so long you forget it is there.

And then we are going about the day. And the kids need to be picked up from school 

but aren’t even born yet. Wandering the house,

Leaving the work desk for water in a dixie cup, forgetting the water

 

In the dixie cup. One day you come home from work early,

you find nothing 

in bed with your wife. You were never there, she says

nothing lived next door. 

 

In other stories 

the day is still happening.

 

2. 

The day is still happening. 

I take a walk in the sun. 

I catch a glimpse 

of what it might be like 

 

being another person. 

The palm folds over 

itself. The horizon halves

another apple, another day

 

another man. Quick light

moon spike. 

Other residents of this instance

become shadow.

 

Other residents

hold hands.