The Halving of Things

By David LaBounty

Seven, my son
woke up and
walked into
the family room
and peered through
our ancient blinds
as he considered
the sun.

 

Daddy, it's
dark in Australia
right now, and
New Zealand and
Japan.

 

That's right, I said
as I considered the
news on the radio
that drifted from
the kitchen and the
words on the radio
sounded like voices
in a can as they
bounced off the kitchen
walls and appliances
before they made their
way into the family room.

 

Why? he asked.

 

And I explained
to him about the
rotation of the
Earth and the tilting
of its axis
and I wanted
to tell him that's
just how life is,
how life is
going to be.
Dark and light
in equal measure.

Published July 2007