The next word I say

Rivulets of now
gurgle into tanks of yore.
I stand and surmise:
nothing is more informative
than what we don't prepare for.

Dangers and dingers make
a finely textured catastrophe
or cancel out to a standstill:
listen! The next word I say

isn't a bad choice
to avoid oblivion. Your
warm room, your baby's bottle
are made possible in part
by what I write here.