Mise-en-scène

"...the newly dead must pass through 
a halfway house run by angels. In this 
place of transit, the migrants must 
choose one event from their lives 
that the angels will make into a movie, 
starring the migrants themselves. 
Heaven is this short film, played 
on an endless loop." 
                 ~ Viet Thanh Nguyen



No one leaving for the airport at dawn
as if surreptitiously, while the child 
is sleeping. Instead, they walk 
       hand in hand, following a path

dusted by moths. No one leveling
the mountains or cutting down 
all the trees. Nothing   
       that needs to be paid by

installment, or with gold 
extracted from someone's mouth. 
No one hiding under the house until
       the creditors go away.

No one having to endlessly correct
grammar, our names, our being
here. A window not taped
       with plastic in winter.

No disappearing into the surf, no
walking barefoot into the snow.
No pills in vials, no asking 
       when anything will end.