POEM: Bargaining

Bargaining

They sit across the table
negotiating, bargaining.
I’ll cede the overnights
if you’ll agree to—

It never works out.
You can drive around
the cul de sac as many
times as you want.

OK but what if we—
They start again,
thinking surely this time
they’ll uncover a new angle.

The narrow beam moves
across the timeline,
illuminating them both,
but not together.

/ / /

10 April 2024
Charlottesville VA
NaPoWriMo Day 10