Sometimes when circling the anniversary of a death, reality feels stretched. That feeling deepened this summer while writing a series about my father’s death. I thought to myself, how many poems can you write with this title? Each poem isn’t literally on the anniversary, or is it? So I wrote that sensation of multiplicity into the poem. The poem seeks connection with nature in these moments, but finds connection elusive, as the sculpture reminded me.

Matthew Isaac Sobin’s first book was The Last Machine in the Solar System. Poems have recently appeared or are forthcoming in ONE ART, SoFloPoJo, and Wild Roof Journal. His work has been nominated for Best of the Net and Best Spiritual Literature. He teaches algebra, and lives in Hayward, California.

X: @WriterMattIsaac I: @matthewisaacsobin B: @matthewisaacsobin.bsky.social