In spiral

In spiral, not death—

an ether grace, slow motion dismantle, a peaceful dissolution—

where time slows, winks, blows a kiss like she will miss you.

It’s the moments we snap the shot and remember—

I’m where one repair don’t fix it.

Setup in Town Center, Suwanee Arts Fest—

tomorrow comes fast.

Landed at Five Guys, burgers in hand,

my fourth born and me.

Home— Foo Fighters loud,

setup for the fest, art mania this weekend.

Wife slips in, talking logistics—

I’m cross-eyed, tapping glass.

Third born— bug in the ceiling,

urgent, ours to deal with—

and promptly gone.

Picked at a sore on top of my head—

bleeding—

napkin tucked under the hat, for now.

She found the chairs—

all is well for the next five seconds.

I’m hunched over the workbench,

wondering where the day went—

watch my dear scuffle and mutter off.

Caps, bags, clutter—

crackers, junior mints,

on tar-tracked tin foil.

Empty canisters, red lids—

the fire waxing weak—

facing a butane deficit.

6:22—

one more—

then retire to the living room.

The dog paws my lap—

A New Hope hums, beeps and bangs of war.

The chocolate is gobbled—

stormtroopers breach the hull.

Cue the Vader—

breathing, hands on hips, tall and daring.

Never underestimate a droid—

help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi, you’re our only—

got a bad feeling about this.

Choked out—

dark lords at the throat of the Republic—

no more.

The princess, stunned—

now a prisoner.

The duo is off—

a secret mission to Tatooine.

Crash land in the desert—

with a reason to survive.

Rebel. Traitor.

Battle station plans missing—

no one to stop us this time.

3PO—

we seemed to be made to suffer—

it’s our lot in life.

Friends separate—

the Force works in mysterious ways.

A providence at work in the mess of it.

Destiny—

off in a runaway droid.

Jawas circling.

A message finds the master—

and the world bends to light.

Roll it all up—

and watch the two suns set.

Not an ending—

just light leaving in stereo.

And here—

in the clutter, in the fatigue, in the almost—

small carriers moving through noise,

holding something larger than themselves,

until it lands.