"It Was Late In Time”
It was late in time
when the light came back to take attendance.
Not to the blueprints.
To the wreckage that learned to hold water.
The god ray cut through storm like a chisel,
and the concrete answered
in ash and charcoal.
It was late in time
in time it was late
The palm did not ask permission
from the slab it split.
The slab did not ask permission
from the palm it framed.
A tidal pool kept the ceiling’s memory
better than the ceiling did.
The ceiling kept the storm’s memory
better than the tidal pool.
It was late in time
when we understood,
the hurricane was not the end of the design.
It was the design,
finally speaking in curves.
The architects drew in straight lines
and left.
The island redrew them
in root and reflection
and stayed.
It was late in time
and paradise was still there
just taking orders
from the water now.