Summary

“Theories of Time and Space” is written in the 2nd person. The speaker says you can get to an unspecified destination but cannot go home. Everywhere you go will be a new place. The speaker advises the protagonist, “you,” to head south through Mississippi until you reach the coast, specifically the pier at Gulfport. The shrimp boats float in the Gulf under a blustery sky. The next order is to cross the man-made beach that covers a swamp. “You” can only bring memory as you board the boat headed for Ship Island. Someone takes your picture and the photograph, a representation of who you used to be, will be waiting upon your return to the mainland.

Analysis

“Theories of Time and Space is about a journey that bends time and space. At its core, the poem is about transformation...