Yesterday was last year

 

Yesterday was last year

A commentator commented

And I could only agree

Yesterday I stuffed new batteries 

In an old walkman 

And went out walking 

A minute later it was today

Two people paused to kiss

And I crossed the street

A firework thudded invisibly

One earphone worked

And played If Not For You

Someone moved

Left half their stuff on the sidewalk

And drove off without a bookshelf

A church emptied its people

Onto that same sidewalk they saw the stuff

And they shook their heads in words

In the meadow the moon 

Spooked me with my own shadow

And I stared it down

A party raged under one arch

Where someone usually sleeps

And the other arch was benchless and bright

On my way home

I walked through the other arch

And four people were having their own party

I almost danced

But read a missing dog poster instead

And it said do not yell or chase

Has anyone ever 

Put up a poster for a missing year

And gotten a reply

Two days ago from tomorrow

Will be last year

And I will have a new bookshelf