Ode to Index Cards

Index cards
Large or small
White or bright
The thicker ones are better.

I pull one out of its plastic sheath.
The things that could happen
Big things mountains of words Organized into thoughts could happen.

I write one idea per card and then shuffle,
Look at them in different orders.
If I can just write on them things will be clearer. I’ll be able to sort it out.

Not just things about dolphins, like their body parts and types,
But maybe something deeper. That question I can’t formulate but whose disembodiedness hovers around me hiding from me so I think I see it in my periphery.

When the index cards come out my unease loses a little bit of its doubt.
I still wait and hope that my thoughts like a billowing haystack won’t crumple under my very small writing,

That one day I will be able to string together the right words that will undo the crease between my brows.