Don’t, katy-
did. Turn
back. You
may not
contemplate
the nature
of existence,
but you do
at times
and to all
appearances
take pleasure
in being
alive, feet
holding fast
to the leaf,
and who
are we
to say
you don’t.
You march
all angles
toward
a precipice.
Your rust-
colored eye
that matches
the dead
end of
the leaf
draws you
toward it.
We want
to see
how it
will end,
how it
will feel
not to feel.
I want you
to turn back.
I want to
turn back,
but we don’t.

—Carolyn Guinzio

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