— for Gary

Everything is being repaved.
There’s no easy way to get anywhere.
They promise it will be easier when it is all done.
They promise a smoother ride.

While you’re waiting, your hair will grow back.
You’ll take a lot of bubble baths.
Apples will bloom, lose face, harden into fruit.
Countries will go through changes.
Jobs will be lost and found and cursed and ignored.
Traffic will wax and wane like a moon full of cars.
You’ll spend more time at home.
Music will be eagerly sought and soon forgotten.
The radio will explode from the weight it is holding one Sunday morning.
You will neglect the clean up in favor of painting with the splatter.
You will throw a party so everyone can help.
Everyone will figure out a way to attend in spite of the repaving.
It will be loud and go on into the night.
The police will be called.
The party animals will scatter.
The cops will knock on your door and ask if you saw
where everyone went.

You will cross your fingers
and say yes
but because everything is being repaved
the roads are shut down
and it’s pointless to chase them.
Besides,
you could not be disloyal to the road crew
who have worked so hard
to ensure that no one gets through.

They will shake their heads and let you off with a warning.
You’ll go back to touching up your walls.

Everything is being repaved.
There’s no easy way to get anywhere
until you make one.