your name

your name arrives in
the form of a question.
the tone reminds me that
i don’t know what we are.

the question, in
the words of my teacher:
are you a memory, or
are you here with me?

the question begins in
the east, as it ends in the west.
it would be okay, i feel,
for this to end here,

as it felt okay not to
disturb the nesting goose,
as by this time of day,
i have not much to say.

in the quiet, i pray
for more quiet;
in the pond, the catfish
becomes light.

2026-05-19