Posterity

After the the allusions

were cataloged but before

the Philharmonic had failed

to perform. After the Reformation

but before the needlepoint

had been archived for later

generations. After the Great

Vacation but before

the colonoscopy.  After the

fall but before the roll.

After hours but before

minutes.  After party

but before funeral.  After

I hardly even know her

but before what she said.

After shave but before haircut.

After happily but before

never.  After cigarettes

but before sixty.  After

over but before under.

After birth but before

consciousness.  After the

fall but before the

risible aftermath.  After

the goiter but

before the gulag.  

After the futon but

before the Teflon

grafted into arteries.

After the stint

in the hoosegow

but before

the outhouse blew up

over the barn to which the Thetans

clung like barnacles.

After the manacles but

before the mandibles.  After

the river but before the

woods from whence peered

Granny’s lidless glowing eyes.

After the night but before

the aubade; your bed is made

now lie on the covers fully

clothed & wake

with a stuffed hippo

of unknown origin.