This Unasked-for Question

Remember that one time when you walked

absently along familiar longitudes and latitudes

of sidewalk, street and lawn which seemed

as amply unsurprising as the air you breathed,

unvexed by any of the mild requirements

(don’t forget those art supplies, and paper

towels, select-a-size) your habits’ rhythms

could be counted on to bring; and suddenly

five words construed themselves out of the air

and stripped you bare: What do I do next?

Why were you more joyfully amazed by

this unasked-for question than perplexed?

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