now. by Mitchell Joe

It was like hearing those three little wounds,
only they were letters- n, o, and w,
followed by a period with the confidence of an exclamation mark
and the steadiness of an earnest question
now
is complete ly
its own movement
wandering free
never wanting
never waiting
onlu always singing, "me, me, me"
inconspicuous unintruder
it's not a command
it's an invitation
to respond if you please
it's a double-take
it's a second chance
firstly, it's a flower
opening
(for you)