Poem: The Speed of Light

She is getting in bed when she realizes she is out

of the half-and-half she takes in her morning coffee.

He is still dressed. He tells her he’ll walk to the market

and get some for her.

The market is two blocks from their apartment.

As he walks, he looks up and sees stars

that have not existed since before he was born.

They did not know their light would travel so far.

He finds the half-and-half, selects two cartons,

stands in line at the checkout. Light of dead

stars, her asleep now in their hom...