–Life magazine headline, July 4, 1969
When I was young I wanted to go to the moon
but I’ve only made it to Milwaukee,
which is to say I have learned
about adjusting expectations.
When I was young I planned to move
to the big city, any big city,
but my hometown grew and grew
in a labyrinth of commerce around me,
which is to say only certain bodies at rest
tend to stay at rest not to mention
good urban planning is a must. When I was young
I was going to drive a Porsche 944 flat on the floor
but I’ve been all four-door sedans and minivans
which is to say I had kids which I was not planning
with a husband I was not planning
the latter of whom came into my life
wearing plaid pants which I was
definitely not planning
which is to say that love is the unbalanced force
unnamed in Newton’s first law
and I learned early on
one, to accept people as they are
even if they have no fashion sense and two,
planning will only take you so far but love
will take you everywhere, even
to Milwaukee in winter, which is to say
although I reserve the right to complain
we do what we have to do. Older now,
I take uncommon pleasure simply anticipating
an afternoon cappuccino
from a powdered mix, which is to say life
is improbable, and if you look you’ll find a galaxy
in your cup, perfect and round and spinning.