Theories of Time and Space
Natasha Trethewey
You can get there from here, though
there’s no going home.Everywhere you go will be somewhere
you’ve never been. Try this:head south on Mississippi 49, one-
by-one mile markers ticking offanother minute of your life. Follow this
to its natural conclusion – dead endat the coast, the pier at Gulfport where
riggings of shrimp boats are loose stitchesin a sky threatening rain. Cross over
the man-made beach, 26 miles of sanddumped on a mangrove swamp – buried
terrain of the past. Bring onlywhat you must carry – tome of memory
its random blank pages. On the dockwhere you board the boat for Ship Island,
someone will take your picture:the photograph – who you were –
will be waiting when you return..
