It’s a terrible word
and just a place
I say it twice
to be sure I have it right
And my body freezes
with the speaking
my face disanimates
time stops within me
though sunny breakfast chatter
warbles on and on
and when I return
my hand bright white
against the green coffee cup
a knife point pivots
on a paper mat
light glinting
my chest is big
something enormous
more than 60 years distant
sends shock waves
across the table