​Anniversary

This second circle—coming back again
to the coming back—the sweeping dial
of days; where all time’s whats and whys and whens

click clockwise on your face, or mine. Begin
again the memory of counting while
this second circle, coming back again,

continues clicking on its route to chime
delights and dangers on discarded piles
of days. Where all time’s whats and whys and whens

witness what we won’t forget in skin: lines
that show in photographs, first seen in smiles
this second. Circle, coming back again

to the coming back: foretold convergence
unfolding; calendar that reconciles
our days when all time’s whats and whys and whens

wed what we’ve become, your nows, my thens
intersecting us again. Meanwhile
this. Second circle. Coming back. Again
the day where all becomes our whats, whys, whens.

—Marjorie Maddox