Relativity

If Einstein was right, 

then there is no long straight

string of time

and everything is cyclical

boundaries in flux, beginnings

and ends mutable, or nonexistent

and who’s to say that as I lean

over the sink its particles don’t

expand to accept a few of mine 

and we don’t become intertwined 

for a moment or few or

that the paste doesn't serve as some

emulsifier between enamel and bristle,

combining tooth and brush

and eliminating plaque in between

and how, then, can I know what

is over? or what has just begun? 

if the events before ever ended

or if we have always wanted each other

brushed our teeth side-by-side

slept together every night 

wished for the same things

but won’t ever end up.

I.

"You want to smoke a cigarette with me?"

"Yea"

We sat in the car, two people

who hadn't spoke in months.

"What are you doing next year?"

"How is the house?"

"When does the album come out?"

We sat in the car, two people

who had known each other for years

and hurt each other enough to be strangers again.

II.

"you take these shears here and cut the 

rose bushes down to the base"

"daddy, there are still buds on these"

"yea but you've got to cut them down 

before the snow comes, so they can grow back."

III.

The leaves weren't even done changing,

and had barely started falling, when

the forecast said snow on saturday 

and the wind chill supported its claim.

The snow would come and kill all 

the potential of the rosebuds

if I didn't kill them first. 

And I had to trust that they would grow back again.

Things will get much worse before they get better.