Past tense

'

and it was a crash we could walk away from,
allowing for some continuity errors:
the spice of life,
getting home to find my dad watching
a videotape of the 1986 Superbowl,
we could.
Are we getting stronger?
Age doesn't seem to work that way,
but what do I know
unable to even hold the thoughts
dragging like anchors along the bottom
clouding the waters
and there are no underwater kingdoms.
God was with us
but you should see the other guy.
Thirty meters
careening:
a physical prediction,
but we live in the moment
in this day and age
and I really am
trying hard to forget so much
and not just the regrets,
not even the regrets.
We live
in cities famous for their walls
long since collapsed
sending unprepared tourists headlong
into a mid-level existential crisis
easily cured by
Going Home
when that's an option.
We will miss out on so much
unless we cheat time,
appreciate the ancient landmarks
and signifiers of our great culture
now, before they're aged
and bleed a little optimism
that they'll stick around
at least as long as we do.
After all the walls
and the heights
dizzying
and other weaknesses
and thoughts
and would you look at that sunset
and that's a lovely dress you're wearing
and we can walk home, it's a terrible day
to fly.