five or maybe ten lifetimes from now

i will be a boy

playing near a stream

building a water wheel

out of paper, and popsicle sticks, and rubber bands

clothes full of water and mud.

now i am ready to test the machine

of a sudden, i hear a voice

i look up as a little girl my age asks

what are you doing?

having never seen her here before

i  answer

waiting for you