What would happen?

What would happen if you left your laptop in the office,
if you didn’t bring your computer home one night.
If your voicemail light stayed red for twelve hours,
your in-box stayed full.
What would happen if on one day you left at five and sat on a bench in the sun.
What would happen if you didn’t rush home.
Didn’t pick up the pace to make the light.
Didn’t worry about catching the next train.
What would happen in you called an old friend and reintroduced yourself.
What would happen if you went to a movie in the middle of the day.
Or stayed on that bench and read a book.
What would happen if the TV stayed off and the answering machine picked up every call.
What would happen if you held your child’s hand and walked the dog an extra long way.
What would happen if you sent someone flowers.
Went to the public library.
Or rowed a boat in the park.
Would the clocks stop ticking?
The wheels of commerce grind down.
The economy sputter and die.
Would your house fall apart.
Would illness impede you.
Would your children turn their faces from you.
Would you die, die an ungainly death.
What would happen if