DUALITY

Originally published in The Rockford Review, Spring 2024 issue

I always thought I’d be a pro 
at living a double life, 

at taking meetings in new york 
and booking dinner reservations in chicago.
 
I dreamt of slicing my body in half,
one side neatly allocated to each city, 

but the universe had a different idea. 

she granted my wish, on one condition: 
she would make the cut herself. 

instead of a clean line 
from head to toe, 

her blade went from my left ear 
to my stomach to my hip bone, 

trailing down my right leg to my pinky toe.

I hear her laugh as my brain sits
in a conference room in midtown

while my right foot runs on 
a trail near logan square.

splitting time is more akin to splitting fibers, 

carefully allocating each strand. 
my feet are never in the same place.
 
most days I’m skeptical I’m even wearing matching shoes. 
my body is as fragmented 

as a picasso sketch
(hopefully not in his blue period). 

my limbs are out of order,
uncoordinated,

but as I sew each part back in place, 
I dream I adapt to my new proportions.