blog

pensées

poems

2020s

2010s

2000s

1990s

1980s

1970s

publications


dreams

recordings

verse


books

reading list

wishlist


Before, After, and Next



There is what came before the book.
There is what came after the book.
And there is what will come next.

There is (or is not) what was lost before the book.
There is (or is not) what was lost after the book.
And there is what will be lost next.

We are what we were before the book, minus what we lost.
We are what we were after the book, minus what we lost.
And we will be what we will be next, minus what will be lost.

Before the book, we could not have foreseen the book.
After the book, we could not remember before the book.
And now we cannot imagine what will be next.

Let us express our gratitude to the book.
And let us anticipate what comes next.

All poems are written and copyrighted by Michael C. Rush.
None may be republished or repurposed without permission.