everything comes down
to a few moments
of time
in life

birth --
appointment you went to
for first job you landed
six-pound bass on your hook
speeding ticket
court room phantasm
intoxicating smell of a woman’s hair
successful potty training
discovery of comic books
and pizza
realizing knowledge is preferable to
ignorance
scent of a forest after a rain
learning to swim
your first cigarette/your last one
day you understood that Mozart
was a genius and the Beatles would never
make it to genius land
ability to type on the keys without looking
comprehending an algebraic equation
switches being turned on in your brain
wondering if all questions will be answered
for ones not yet asked
staying up all night with friends
still friends in the morning
incipient glimpse of the ocean
new apartment in a new city
discovery of something new, all your very own
helping your neighbour put his hay in the barn
hearing a whippoorwill for the second time,
knowing the song without asking who is singing
sailing under wind power
actually looking at stars, and immensity of space
feeling very small
being introduced to the Oxford English Dictionary
walking down a gravel mountain road alone
at midnight
knowing you can read anything,
and understand most of it
years this takes, and more years
just when you think you have a handle
on some of it
death rears is benevolent head
and it is over for this trip around
the wheel
hurry and grab the brass ring

doesn’t matter, you will be back
to get it all correct.