This is now
By John Isbell
Writing slowly
means savouring each word.
There is no need to correct,
but it is sweet to pause,
and remember what has come and what is coming.
Even for a long time.
In that time, let your breathing come easy
until the words well up again.
That is what they will do.
These pauses can last many seconds
when you are drunk.
Everything that ever happened
happened in the same instant.
Every word is the same word.
This is now.
Let the blood rush to the head,
and the heart cannot pump.
Heartbeat.
22.iii.2001
