Time

What time is it?
Looks like…half past nine.
Is there something I’m supposed to do?
What exactly was it that
I used to do right now
Back when “now” had meaning?
If I remember it, eventually,
I’ll do it later.
Maybe.

What day is it?
Well, it’s Thursday here
But it’s still Wednesday where you are
And I’m talking to you
On Zoom…or Skype?
No, it’s Zoom.
So what you say on Wednesday
Actually reaches me a day later.
That’s quite a delay, man!
They should really fix that.

What week is this?
Is this the one where we were
Supposed to be in France?
Or is it the one where we were going
To that party at your brother’s house?
I can’t even recall
What the occasion was.
Or is.
Or will be.
If it ever will.
Or was.

What month is it?
How many goddamn weeks
Have we been hiding in
This bloody foxhole?
When are we going over the top?
I really want to meet the enemy
Face to face, Captain.
Before our supplies run out.
Or they sever our communications.
Or we just forget what time is
And we forget what time was
And we lose what will be
And what could have been
And then…what was this fight
Even for?