The Speed of Light

by Barry Graham

She is getting in bed when she realises she is out
of the half-and-half she takes in her morning coffee.
He is still dressed. He tells her he’ll walk to the market
and get some for her.

The market is two blocks from their apartment.
As he walks, he looks up and sees stars
that have not existed since before he was born.
They did not know their light would travel so far.

He finds the half-and-half, selects two cartons,
stands in line at the checkout. Light of dead
stars, her asleep now in their home. Coffee
she will drink when she wakes. A journey

of two blocks in the universe.