could
my
now gone
anti-vax
acquaintance of years
past wander beside me at the
renton ikea he would judge these shoppers against
his 1950s idaho dream time tolerant of chinese restaurants, nez perce
on the rez, black porters, and mexicans at the mill accepting east indians and vietnamese on the news and homos out of sight—
now mixed families sing "i love you" in a dozen tongues, ballcaps, head scarves, and turbans
share plant based meatballs as rainbow flags join old glory—
covid spared his big uneasy
for time's most precious
aspect lies
in its
quick
turn