Alone

imagine the atomic affinities of the world
these universes of stuff that look like chairs or moons
that look like things that laugh and love
this infinite web of motions
these packets of energy that mutter
and cogitate upon their own protons
spinning electrons off in breaths and sweat
distributing themselves in scents and sense
who think themselves into being
who imagine boundaries so concrete
they defy laws of physics and grace
deny the electrical pull of particles
their magnetic attractions
their nano network of thoughts and dreams
their atomic affiliations that spin-off mystics
their inclination to receive or enter other,
their bizarre insistence that they could,
despite gravity, actually be
alone

Jim Culleny, 4/6/22