a room that has not stopped
kept for the thing that has not finished. no clock works in this room
and yet none has been wound down. it is warmer than the corridor and
smells faintly of dawn.
the opposite room is never. the floor
between them is time; the lamp left on
is vigil. you can cross the line by
taking one breath.
to leave: nothing is required. ritual,
04:00, the garden
keep their own version of this room.