PLATE TECTONICS (Michael Walters - Austin, TX)

For now I have decided to not decide.

I trace the distance between us

on newspaper weather maps.

We are two inches apart.

I bundle myself in

warm-from-dryer blankets,

thinking of high school science,

picturing continents billions of years ago

refusing to remain stationary,

drifting and colliding until

north touched

west touched

south touched

east as a poorly folded road map.

My reluctant roots could be roused

by grinding plates, earthquakes, pumping lava,

steam rising from the ocean.

I listen to wind and crickets,

waiting for tremors.