On Notice
By
Jennifer Angelina Petro
At a moment’s notice
You’re on notice.
Did you notice that?
It may come person to person,
Or deer to person, or hawk to person,
You might receive notice in the mail–
It might be short notice,
Advanced notice,
Official notice,
It might be public notice,
Or you might be noticed in secret by a shadow, or the moon.
However it comes, whatever its nature,
Take it as best you can, for rest assured
One day you will be put on notice,
Or you will put notice on yourself—whichever it is—
There may not be further notice.
Keep in mind there are notes in every notice–
Musical notes that just want to be seen and heard and played.
For all noticings are musical by nature, every time
You notice another, the soul dances.
The thing to remember is this:
Nothing goes without notice forever.
When death comes with her eviction notice,
You will have no choice but to sit up and take it.
I notice your eyes,
The slight tilt of your face,
I notice you breathing on these words
Giving them life.