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Song In Which We Yet Sidestep Disaster
by Tess Taylor

For Taylor

Even stars are formed by loss. You know
          astronomers believe that galaxies are forged
                     out of huge collapsing stars—

hollow, imploding on themselves.
          As stars die the very charge
                     of their collapse sets matter loose:

This lost energy becomes a splatter
          of elemental goo spinning in space.
                         If this is hard to see, think of a tub,

the one our kids play in each night.
                     When it drains, the energy that’s lost
in gravity’s huge suck is turned to sound. Sound:

what lost force becomes. Sound:
                        the gurgle left behind by entropy.
                                  Think: Collapsing stars

forging a galactic paint
                  of elements & energy;
                          nickel; copper; iron; ore

of which each new world is made.
                     Our life is splattered star.
                                      Or, my love, we’re spun of losses.

Is this why
              we sit up on the shore
                         & hear the ocean smash the rocks?

The air rings with lost force we call the waves.
             Ten years ago I gave my life to you,
                           & lost some of the life I had before.

We marked promises & gave
                   each other mined-up core
                                to wear a while, minted now as rings.

Guise of permanence, to enclose a life.
              I also know that when I write tonight
                            I only chase the pattern that I hear.

Something I meant spins farther off.
                And: You didn’t die that awful year.                      
                               I haven’t lost you yet.

My love, I count the lucky stars.
              I lie, rocking on your breath.

"Song In Which We Yet Sidestep Disaster," by Tess Taylor, from RIFT ZONE by Tess Taylor, copyright © 2020 Red Hen Press. Used by permission of Red Hen Press.