when our nephews and nieces
or, heaven help us, sons and daughters
say to us, say, you were alive back when,
back when - and here we have to let them
fill in the blank, something important to them
and we stare a moment then look embarrassed
remembering we were drawing a bath
or hoping to get laid, or target shooting
for heaven's sake, nothing important
not even to us, but important enough
at the time that we completely missed
the bullet through that window
the riot after that speech
or whoever it was completing that painting
whatever we say they will look unbelieving
sure they will notice and attend
the significant events of their lifetimes
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