yesterday was good

“how’s today?” a friend texted
not yesterday
not tomorrow
today

simple question that insists
on gruelin calculations of now

how do I add hours
that haven’t finished unfoldin?

do I tell him I’m countin victories
that barely register
“well bud…
I’m wearin matchin socks
had more than water for breakfast
made my appointment on time
and I’m not drownin
in yesterday’s regrets”

or I could answer with the afternoon storm
that is buildin up between my temples
thunder cloud thoughts
a weight of anxiety
makin my fingers drum out
a soundless cry against my desk

“fine” I type then delete
“good” I lie then backspace
“still standin” I offer
words failin to capture the moment
three dots pulse then disappear
writin a paragraph of silence

why couldn’t he just ask
“how are you?”
like a normal person
instead of this hauntin “today”
that’s forcin me into the present

“today is…”

I find myself smilin
at the blinkin cursor
completely paralyzed by the now