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When the future comes knocking
by Elani Spencer

we don’t check the peephole first
or ask who is it? in our manliest voice
or turn out the lights and pretend no one is home
like our parents taught us

no, we throw the door open wide
and say: thank you for stopping by

we don’t ask them to take off their shoes
but let them track new earth into the house,
later we’ll vacuum it up from the carpet
and dump it into the garden out back
maybe then something will grow

we dust off the cushions, offer them a place to sit
a glass of water, a cup of tea, whatever they like

when it’s time for them to leave,
we will ask them another question
and hover by the door for another hour
like our parents taught us

with one last hug,
we’ll breathe in their new beginnings perfume
and try to memorize it

our final question leaves a draft in the room:
Will we survive this?
looking out the window, the first sprout lifts its head

the answer is yes, always yes

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