Newreal

“Because my eyes are not yet accustomed to the desert,” the boy said. “I can see things that eyes habituated to the desert might not see.” -- Pablo Coehlo



I buy diapers at Target
Less than a week
After becoming a dad
At my car, I snap a selfie
"I guess I'm that guy now" I think

But the emotion of "This is normal"
Has not yet joined the action
My eyes have not yet accustomed to the diaper aisle 
My muscles haven't formed their memory

--

Zoe is strapped to my chest now
Is that really her name?
I haven't said it enough times 
For it to feel normal

--

"We are what we repeatedly do"
Aristotle said
And in the days of just a few reps
My identity is a pupa

I don't know an exact word
To describe this feeling
Of doing nascently 
Surreal is close
But newreal
Might be closer