Temporal Dynamics

If two candles are burning side by side,

it’s not too hard to stand in front of them

and blow out only one or the other.

It’s not exactly a skill we practice

but when it is viewed as an exercise

in fluid dynamics it doesn’t sound

like it’s the easiest thing in the world.

But we can all do it. You just focus.

Then—classically—you purse your lips and blow.

Temporal dynamics sounds hard, also.

Predicting the future. What will happen?

What will he or she say? What numbers win

the big lottery jackpot this evening?

I wonder if predicting the future

is also one of those things we can do

if we just try it once or twice, focused,

and figure out the crystal ball version

of pursing our lips and blowing at it.

I bet people who do see what’s coming

say it’s kind of as easy as whistling . . .