PsychoanalysisLacan Volume 5
Poetry
Time
Michael McAndrew
Time doesn’t count
It happens all at once
In grains of sand
Or even drops of water
An ocean wave
Or volcanic eruption
On watch staring at the sea
Wanting to go smoke and forget
A different watch, staring into darkness
Waiting to see if any of the kids on the unit wake up with a bad dream
Sitting at a bar in Malaysia
Talking about nothing in particular
It’s snowing and the kids need to go to school
I’m arguing with an 11 year old about why she can’t wear flip flops today
I’m stamping my new rank
On a green flight deck jersey
I’m labeling the kids clothes when I get into work
I don’t want them to argue about what belong to who in the morning
Whole milk in plastic tumblers with cartoon characters
Whole Red Bull’s from Thailand, uncarbonated and warm
Tiger Beer mixed with Irish Car Bombs
Mixing Miralax into orange juice
Men and women who can’t speak about what they know
Kids who haven’t mastered how not to
“I heard you were in the army, is that true?”
I was in the navy
“My grandpa was in the navy, that’s how he got all his teeth knocked out.”
Yeah, that can happen
“Is it true you have to make your bed all the time in the navy.”
Just every morning
“That’s all the time.”
Uh-huh
“What war were you in?”
This one
“There’s a war going on now?”
Yep
“Will you eat breakfast at the table next to me?”
Yes
“Is the breakfast in the navy good?”
Not really. Well, the biscuits and gravy were good
“We have that here.”
I know. It’s better here
(I just know), there’s time for us to fall in love before I have to leave