On the Dock of Infinity

by Joe Albanese

Laced in petrichor, the hymn of

starlight catches me.

In the violet stem of long-dead

nebulae I

wait, dumbfounded by the

walk, tight-roped

and undone. Delighted

by the possibility, I follow the

far-off lantern—its calling

flickers.

Do I pick up the pace or slow

down? Draped in the fear

of a finale fading,

I press on. There, on the dock of

infinity, water whispers

to me, "We're all gonna get

there someday."