by Martina Reisz Newberry
The year I visited North Carolina,
I flew on a half-filled plane
to see my very good friend,
I wore a hat made in Peru and boots
from Sears, Roebuck & Co,
I read from a book on
the history of the Shakers,
and I wondered throughout
the entire flight how
it was that anyone
could love anything so much
in this world.
My days then were named Wonder and Pain—
those rapacious twins.
So, I flew away in my
Peruvian hat and my unreal smile.
“Live in the NOW,” they say.
“Live only in the Present Moment.”
I hold that particular truth
to be self-evident. Still,
as we set down on the concrete,
my third eye was already looking
backwards and inward
to when the adventure began.