momentane

we are etymologies, words crumbling
      and reforming, morph by morph, into scaffolds of syntax, the skeleton
   of a lexicon rebuilt. we determine our semantics. we determine
      how we survive, and what we forget about emergencies, darling,
         is that they are nouns: they are single points in time
            derived from actions,
      from something
            emerging.
even the most devastating earthquake
         lasts only a few minutes, is only an epicenter, is not
an end. we still have
         the aftershocks. we still have the aching hurt of bones
      creaking back together, the unfamiliarity
         of your hand over mine, the soft thrill
      of recovering yes. we are not
                                 emergencies. we are
the seeing, the merging. we are
                                 possibilities.

Read more from Issue No. 22 or share on Twitter.