Half Day

Nothing to do with existence is a passive act. 

Seize the day not Let the calendar adhere to its own 

intervals. Even if all I do is eat pretzels while 

staring out the window on this Thursday 

morning at the café, just being here is a 

luxury; all the action in front of me on the 

avenue—them moments is designer duds. 

I watched a woman attempt to fit a big-ass 

dresser into her tiny-bottom hatchback and 

was torn between wanting to help and warn 

since the struggle to fit something into a 

space that doesn’t seem to welcome it is 

its own form of natural order, and the fact 

my brother-in-law reduced his consumption 

of red meat but refuses to wear a helmet 

while biking through busy streets is a 

commentary on trusting others more so 

than yourself. Granted was not made to 

be taken, although stolen moments should 

be celebrated and seized for rainy days 

when happiness decides to call in sick 

and all that’s left is the lingering saltiness 

of a comfort snack, the remnants of flavor 

from a filet mignon, the time it takes to 

count your blessings and burials.

DANIEL ROMO is the author of Bum Knees and Grieving Sunsets (FlowerSong Press 2023), Moonlighting as an Avalanche (Tebot Bach 2021), Apologies in Reverse (FutureCycle Press 2019), and other books. He received an MFA from Queens University of Charlotte, and he lives, writes, and rides his bikes in Long Beach, CA. More at danieljromo.com.