And look—in the gulf, ink gathers itself into a slick, tucks away. Two fishermen release a killer whale into the sea. Floods parch, coral blushes. The glaciers uncurl like fists. A wolf reconsiders a trap. The rhinos of Java are multiplying. A pit bull walks away from a fight. Turns out it takes 1 minute and 37 seconds for pine cinders to un-smolder into a tree. It swells, breathes, plasma lung sucking in smoke. I’m trying to redress a wound. I’m only rewinding. They’re cutting down an elm on my block. It smells vinegary, like a promise gone sour. I was supposed to be brought to my knees alone.