and we hadn’t eaten lunch

and the future was uncertain

and so was the past

and the present

and all the shine between it all

the news was poison

and so too were the pleasures

that ate up everything

the best pizza in the world

any song ever recorded

ready to be played

at a single touch

endless empty distraction

but our phones were off

and we hadn’t eaten lunch

and for now there was no work

and nothing close to us

was on fire or flooded

and that was enough

we were hungry and tired

and young but feeling old

and the good days were gone

and the worst days perhaps

were yet to arrive

but the light 

from the kitchen window

filled the whole room

in fact 

the whole world

was filled with light

Alexander Shalom Joseph is an award-winning poet, writer and playwright from Gilpin County, and is the author of seven published books. You can find his work and more information about him at alexandershalomjoseph.com.