by J.R. Solonche
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| The Doomsday Clock was set at 85 seconds to midnight, the closest the Clock has ever been to midnight in its history. —Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, January 27, 2026. Photo: Jamie Christian |
Boil a cup of water in a modern microwave.
Tie both shoes with a deliberate, double-knot of human certainty.
Empty a small kitchen trash bin and replace the liner before the infinite notices.
Hand-grind enough coffee beans for a single sardonic cup.
Take twelve deep breaths, measuring the air as if it were borrowed property.
Wash your hands thoroughly, scrubbing the January salt from your knuckles.
Read three short poems by J.R. Solonche.
Write a brief postcard to a neighbor you haven't spoken to in years.
Check the mail, auditing the envelopes for clerical errors.
Wind a manual wristwatch, tightening the spring against the global midnight.
Nominated for the Eric Hoffer Book Award, twice for the National Book Award and three times for the Pulitzer Prize, J.R. Solonche is the author of more than 50 books of poetry and coauthor of another. He lives in the Hudson Valley.
