You were certain, “Nothing is certain.”,
(tethered-to, tethered two)
until that grey whale washed up ashore.
(out of the blue, out of the blue)

Moon exploded so the tide stayed high.
(for days & nights, for days & nights)
We stopped waiting for the return.
(Do you remember? Remember?)

Was it for the first time?
Or was it just a long time
since the last?

Ocean reached the banyan trees.
That’s when we started climbing.
Branch by branch,
limb by limb, near blindly.

Wind picked up and brought rain.
Got to the top, looked down the coast.
You & I saw the same:
Sands aglow in the distance
Some heaven arising thru the
indigo-midnight sky. Indigo-midnight sky.

Was it for the first time?
Or was it just a long time
since the last?

Did I misremember?
Or did I imagine?
Did it seem familiar to you?
No, wasn’t quite the same.

Was this in that dream of yours back when?
I feel like you told me about this.
They’ll read all about it someday
We seem to foresee things one day late.
One day late.
One day late.

First time?
Long time?

First time,
long time.

First time?
Long time.

First time.
Long time.

(9/24/2017 – Adams Point, Oakland, California)