* * *
To P. Schwartz
Again – cold wind,
Again – “east-nord”,
Why is it so in the world:
A long life’s like one minute?
Do you like it? Me – not.
If I’d been in Egypt on that day…
If I’d said ‘yes’ to that guy…
If I had acted, if I had prayed…
If my best friend were alive…
Thousands of “if”s – like silver knives…
My possible lives, forgive me:
We should enjoy one version of one life,
And look at the other ones with irony.
Seattle, Desember, 2001