↓ Skip to Main Content
Search
Generic filters
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Search in excerpt
  • Archive
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
  • Advertise
  • About
Pittsburgh Quarterly
  • Pittsburgh Today
    • Regional News
    • Spotlight
    • The Pulse
    • Indicators
    • Regional Annual Report
    • Special Reports
    • Sustainability Watch
    • Pittsburgh Tomorrow Podcast
    • Contest Ideas
    • About Pittsburgh Today
  • Money
    • Business
    • Money
    • Innovation
    • Retirement
    • Creative Capital
  • Nonprofits
    • Leadership
    • Region
    • Nonprofits
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Events
  • People
    • Profiles
    • Obituaries
    • Arrivals
    • American Spirit
  • Home/Lifestyle
    • Homes
    • Travel
    • Food & Wine
    • Restaurant Reviews
    • Shopping
  • Culture
    • Arts
    • Books
    • Opinion
    • Architecture & Neighborhoods
    • PQ Poem
    • History
    • Calendar
  • Health
    • Health
    • Science
  • Sports/Outdoors
    • Sports
    • Birds
    • Nature
    Home › Article › In the Used To Time

    In the Used To Time

    by Nancy Krygowski
    2021 Fall
    Credit: Amir Esrafili
    November 10, 2021

    There was a guy who’d sing 

    his way to work, walking on the path 

    I’d bike down, 

    and he’d sing

    at the top of his lungs, and 

    sometimes he’d close his eyes

    and sometimes he’d throw his arms up

    and sometimes he’d do a little sway and snap 

    of the fingers and the string bag

    on his back 

    would sway the other way.

    I’d slow down to catch

    a whiff of his high notes

    the wiggle of his hips

    this tiny universe

    of ordinary joy

    made bigger on days

    when I couldn’t locate my own.

    Where is he now 

    in this time of pause

    this stuck silence,

    this used to

    this time when we don’t have voices

    to question our lack of voices

    this time when we look at our hands 

    like they’re victims?

    Categories: PQ Poem
    Tags:
    Nancy Krygowski

    Nancy Krygowski is the author of "The Woman in the Corner" (University of Pittsburgh Press), which was named one of the top 100 (or so) books of poetry for 2020 by Library Journal. Her first book, Velocity, won the Agnes Lynch Starrett Prize from the University of Pittsburgh Press. She is a recipient of a Pennsylvania Council on the Arts Individual Artist Fellowship, a Pittsburgh Foundation Grant, and several residencies. Nancy spent many years teaching English to refugees and immigrants. Now she teaches poetry workshops at CMU and in Carlow University’s Madwomen in the Attic writing program.

    Related Articles

    Your 8th Birthday

    by Marcus Whalbring

    You in the Mountains

    by Richelle Buccilli

    June 15, 2017

    by Rachel Mennies

    Necessary City

    by Emily Mohn-Slate

    Intersections: Poetry, Photography and Pittsburgh

    by Joan E. Bauer & Michael Parillo

    For the Small Hairs on My Ears

    by Jeff Oaks

    Perfection

    by Richard Gegick

    First Grill

    by Joshua Martin

    Other Articles in This Series

    Don’t miss a story from PQ.

    Get Pittsburgh’s No. 1 magazine in your mailbox.

    Subscribe

    • Contact
    • Advertise
    • Subscribe
    • Privacy Policy
    • Where to Buy
    • Sign Up for Newsletter
      © 2023 Pittsburgh Quarterly Magazine — All Rights Reserved

      Designed and Developed by Apple Box Studios

      Top
      • Pittsburgh Today
        • Regional News
        • Spotlight
        • The Pulse
        • Indicators
        • Regional Annual Report
        • Special Reports
        • Sustainability Watch
        • Pittsburgh Tomorrow Podcast
        • Contest Ideas
        • About Pittsburgh Today
      • Money
        • Business
        • Money
        • Innovation
        • Retirement
        • Creative Capital
      • Nonprofits
        • Leadership
        • Region
        • Nonprofits
        • Education
        • Environment
        • Events
      • People
        • Profiles
        • Obituaries
        • Arrivals
        • American Spirit
      • Home/Lifestyle
        • Homes
        • Travel
        • Food & Wine
        • Restaurant Reviews
        • Shopping
      • Culture
        • Arts
        • Books
        • Opinion
        • Architecture & Neighborhoods
        • PQ Poem
        • History
        • Calendar
      • Health
        • Health
        • Science
      • Sports/Outdoors
        • Sports
        • Birds
        • Nature
      • Pittsburgh Today
        ▼
        • Regional News
        • Spotlight
        • The Pulse
        • Indicators
        • Regional Annual Report
        • Special Reports
        • Sustainability Watch
        • Pittsburgh Tomorrow Podcast
        • Contest Ideas
        • About Pittsburgh Today
      • Money
        ▼
        • Business
        • Money
        • Innovation
        • Retirement
        • Creative Capital
      • Nonprofits
        ▼
        • Leadership
        • Region
        • Nonprofits
        • Education
        • Environment
        • Events
      • People
        ▼
        • Profiles
        • Obituaries
        • Arrivals
        • American Spirit
      • Home/Lifestyle
        ▼
        • Homes
        • Travel
        • Food & Wine
        • Restaurant Reviews
        • Shopping
      • Culture
        ▼
        • Arts
        • Books
        • Opinion
        • Architecture & Neighborhoods
        • PQ Poem
        • History
        • Calendar
      • Health
        ▼
        • Health
        • Science
      • Sports/Outdoors
        ▼
        • Sports
        • Birds
        • Nature
      Responsive Menu
      Add more content here...
      • Pittsburgh Today
        ▼
        • Regional News
        • Spotlight
        • The Pulse
        • Indicators
        • Regional Annual Report
        • Special Reports
        • Sustainability Watch
        • Pittsburgh Tomorrow Podcast
        • Contest Ideas
        • About Pittsburgh Today
      • Money
        ▼
        • Business
        • Money
        • Innovation
        • Retirement
        • Creative Capital
      • Nonprofits
        ▼
        • Leadership
        • Region
        • Nonprofits
        • Education
        • Environment
        • Events
      • People
        ▼
        • Profiles
        • Obituaries
        • Arrivals
        • American Spirit
      • Home/Lifestyle
        ▼
        • Homes
        • Travel
        • Food & Wine
        • Restaurant Reviews
        • Shopping
      • Culture
        ▼
        • Arts
        • Books
        • Opinion
        • Architecture & Neighborhoods
        • PQ Poem
        • History
        • Calendar
      • Health
        ▼
        • Health
        • Science
      • Sports/Outdoors
        ▼
        • Sports
        • Birds
        • Nature
      Responsive Menu
      Add more content here...
      • Pittsburgh Today
        ▼
        • Regional News
        • Spotlight
        • The Pulse
        • Indicators
        • Regional Annual Report
        • Special Reports
        • Sustainability Watch
        • Pittsburgh Tomorrow Podcast
        • Contest Ideas
        • About Pittsburgh Today
      • Money
        ▼
        • Business
        • Money
        • Innovation
        • Retirement
        • Creative Capital
      • Nonprofits
        ▼
        • Leadership
        • Region
        • Nonprofits
        • Education
        • Environment
        • Events
      • People
        ▼
        • Profiles
        • Obituaries
        • Arrivals
        • American Spirit
      • Home/Lifestyle
        ▼
        • Homes
        • Travel
        • Food & Wine
        • Restaurant Reviews
        • Shopping
      • Culture
        ▼
        • Arts
        • Books
        • Opinion
        • Architecture & Neighborhoods
        • PQ Poem
        • History
        • Calendar
      • Health
        ▼
        • Health
        • Science
      • Sports/Outdoors
        ▼
        • Sports
        • Birds
        • Nature
      Responsive Menu
      Add more content here...
      • Pittsburgh Today
        ▼
        • Regional News
        • Spotlight
        • The Pulse
        • Indicators
        • Regional Annual Report
        • Special Reports
        • Sustainability Watch
        • Pittsburgh Tomorrow Podcast
        • Contest Ideas
        • About Pittsburgh Today
      • Money
        ▼
        • Business
        • Money
        • Innovation
        • Retirement
        • Creative Capital
      • Nonprofits
        ▼
        • Leadership
        • Region
        • Nonprofits
        • Education
        • Environment
        • Events
      • People
        ▼
        • Profiles
        • Obituaries
        • Arrivals
        • American Spirit
      • Home/Lifestyle
        ▼
        • Homes
        • Travel
        • Food & Wine
        • Restaurant Reviews
        • Shopping
      • Culture
        ▼
        • Arts
        • Books
        • Opinion
        • Architecture & Neighborhoods
        • PQ Poem
        • History
        • Calendar
      • Health
        ▼
        • Health
        • Science
      • Sports/Outdoors
        ▼
        • Sports
        • Birds
        • Nature
      Responsive Menu
      Add more content here...
      • Pittsburgh Today
        ▼
        • Regional News
        • Spotlight
        • The Pulse
        • Indicators
        • Regional Annual Report
        • Special Reports
        • Sustainability Watch
        • Pittsburgh Tomorrow Podcast
        • Contest Ideas
        • About Pittsburgh Today
      • Money
        ▼
        • Business
        • Money
        • Innovation
        • Retirement
        • Creative Capital
      • Nonprofits
        ▼
        • Leadership
        • Region
        • Nonprofits
        • Education
        • Environment
        • Events
      • People
        ▼
        • Profiles
        • Obituaries
        • Arrivals
        • American Spirit
      • Home/Lifestyle
        ▼
        • Homes
        • Travel
        • Food & Wine
        • Restaurant Reviews
        • Shopping
      • Culture
        ▼
        • Arts
        • Books
        • Opinion
        • Architecture & Neighborhoods
        • PQ Poem
        • History
        • Calendar
      • Health
        ▼
        • Health
        • Science
      • Sports/Outdoors
        ▼
        • Sports
        • Birds
        • Nature
      Responsive Menu
      Add more content here...
      • Pittsburgh Today
        ▼
        • Regional News
        • Spotlight
        • The Pulse
        • Indicators
        • Regional Annual Report
        • Special Reports
        • Sustainability Watch
        • Pittsburgh Tomorrow Podcast
        • Contest Ideas
        • About Pittsburgh Today
      • Money
        ▼
        • Business
        • Money
        • Innovation
        • Retirement
        • Creative Capital
      • Nonprofits
        ▼
        • Leadership
        • Region
        • Nonprofits
        • Education
        • Environment
        • Events
      • People
        ▼
        • Profiles
        • Obituaries
        • Arrivals
        • American Spirit
      • Home/Lifestyle
        ▼
        • Homes
        • Travel
        • Food & Wine
        • Restaurant Reviews
        • Shopping
      • Culture
        ▼
        • Arts
        • Books
        • Opinion
        • Architecture & Neighborhoods
        • PQ Poem
        • History
        • Calendar
      • Health
        ▼
        • Health
        • Science
      • Sports/Outdoors
        ▼
        • Sports
        • Birds
        • Nature
      Responsive Menu
      Add more content here...
      • Pittsburgh Today
        ▼
        • Regional News
        • Spotlight
        • The Pulse
        • Indicators
        • Regional Annual Report
        • Special Reports
        • Sustainability Watch
        • Pittsburgh Tomorrow Podcast
        • Contest Ideas
        • About Pittsburgh Today
      • Money
        ▼
        • Business
        • Money
        • Innovation
        • Retirement
        • Creative Capital
      • Nonprofits
        ▼
        • Leadership
        • Region
        • Nonprofits
        • Education
        • Environment
        • Events
      • People
        ▼
        • Profiles
        • Obituaries
        • Arrivals
        • American Spirit
      • Home/Lifestyle
        ▼
        • Homes
        • Travel
        • Food & Wine
        • Restaurant Reviews
        • Shopping
      • Culture
        ▼
        • Arts
        • Books
        • Opinion
        • Architecture & Neighborhoods
        • PQ Poem
        • History
        • Calendar
      • Health
        ▼
        • Health
        • Science
      • Sports/Outdoors
        ▼
        • Sports
        • Birds
        • Nature
      Responsive Menu
      Add more content here...
      • Pittsburgh Today
        ▼
        • Regional News
        • Spotlight
        • The Pulse
        • Indicators
        • Regional Annual Report
        • Special Reports
        • Sustainability Watch
        • Pittsburgh Tomorrow Podcast
        • Contest Ideas
        • About Pittsburgh Today
      • Money
        ▼
        • Business
        • Money
        • Innovation
        • Retirement
        • Creative Capital
      • Nonprofits
        ▼
        • Leadership
        • Region
        • Nonprofits
        • Education
        • Environment
        • Events
      • People
        ▼
        • Profiles
        • Obituaries
        • Arrivals
        • American Spirit
      • Home/Lifestyle
        ▼
        • Homes
        • Travel
        • Food & Wine
        • Restaurant Reviews
        • Shopping
      • Culture
        ▼
        • Arts
        • Books
        • Opinion
        • Architecture & Neighborhoods
        • PQ Poem
        • History
        • Calendar
      • Health
        ▼
        • Health
        • Science
      • Sports/Outdoors
        ▼
        • Sports
        • Birds
        • Nature
      Responsive Menu
      Add more content here...
      • Pittsburgh Today
        ▼
        • Regional News
        • Spotlight
        • The Pulse
        • Indicators
        • Regional Annual Report
        • Special Reports
        • Sustainability Watch
        • Pittsburgh Tomorrow Podcast
        • Contest Ideas
        • About Pittsburgh Today
      • Money
        ▼
        • Business
        • Money
        • Innovation
        • Retirement
        • Creative Capital
      • Nonprofits
        ▼
        • Leadership
        • Region
        • Nonprofits
        • Education
        • Environment
        • Events
      • People
        ▼
        • Profiles
        • Obituaries
        • Arrivals
        • American Spirit
      • Home/Lifestyle
        ▼
        • Homes
        • Travel
        • Food & Wine
        • Restaurant Reviews
        • Shopping
      • Culture
        ▼
        • Arts
        • Books
        • Opinion
        • Architecture & Neighborhoods
        • PQ Poem
        • History
        • Calendar
      • Health
        ▼
        • Health
        • Science
      • Sports/Outdoors
        ▼
        • Sports
        • Birds
        • Nature
      Responsive Menu
      Add more content here...
      • Pittsburgh Today
        ▼
        • Regional News
        • Spotlight
        • The Pulse
        • Indicators
        • Regional Annual Report
        • Special Reports
        • Sustainability Watch
        • Pittsburgh Tomorrow Podcast
        • Contest Ideas
        • About Pittsburgh Today
      • Money
        ▼
        • Business
        • Money
        • Innovation
        • Retirement
        • Creative Capital
      • Nonprofits
        ▼
        • Leadership
        • Region
        • Nonprofits
        • Education
        • Environment
        • Events
      • People
        ▼
        • Profiles
        • Obituaries
        • Arrivals
        • American Spirit
      • Home/Lifestyle
        ▼
        • Homes
        • Travel
        • Food & Wine
        • Restaurant Reviews
        • Shopping
      • Culture
        ▼
        • Arts
        • Books
        • Opinion
        • Architecture & Neighborhoods
        • PQ Poem
        • History
        • Calendar
      • Health
        ▼
        • Health
        • Science
      • Sports/Outdoors
        ▼
        • Sports
        • Birds
        • Nature
      Responsive Menu
      Add more content here...
      • Pittsburgh Today
        ▼
        • Regional News
        • Spotlight
        • The Pulse
        • Indicators
        • Regional Annual Report
        • Special Reports
        • Sustainability Watch
        • Pittsburgh Tomorrow Podcast
        • Contest Ideas
        • About Pittsburgh Today
      • Money
        ▼
        • Business
        • Money
        • Innovation
        • Retirement
        • Creative Capital
      • Nonprofits
        ▼
        • Leadership
        • Region
        • Nonprofits
        • Education
        • Environment
        • Events
      • People
        ▼
        • Profiles
        • Obituaries
        • Arrivals
        • American Spirit
      • Home/Lifestyle
        ▼
        • Homes
        • Travel
        • Food & Wine
        • Restaurant Reviews
        • Shopping
      • Culture
        ▼
        • Arts
        • Books
        • Opinion
        • Architecture & Neighborhoods
        • PQ Poem
        • History
        • Calendar
      • Health
        ▼
        • Health
        • Science
      • Sports/Outdoors
        ▼
        • Sports
        • Birds
        • Nature
      Responsive Menu
      Add more content here...
      • Pittsburgh Today
        ▼
        • Regional News
        • Spotlight
        • The Pulse
        • Indicators
        • Regional Annual Report
        • Special Reports
        • Sustainability Watch
        • Pittsburgh Tomorrow Podcast
        • Contest Ideas
        • About Pittsburgh Today
      • Money
        ▼
        • Business
        • Money
        • Innovation
        • Retirement
        • Creative Capital
      • Nonprofits
        ▼
        • Leadership
        • Region
        • Nonprofits
        • Education
        • Environment
        • Events
      • People
        ▼
        • Profiles
        • Obituaries
        • Arrivals
        • American Spirit
      • Home/Lifestyle
        ▼
        • Homes
        • Travel
        • Food & Wine
        • Restaurant Reviews
        • Shopping
      • Culture
        ▼
        • Arts
        • Books
        • Opinion
        • Architecture & Neighborhoods
        • PQ Poem
        • History
        • Calendar
      • Health
        ▼
        • Health
        • Science
      • Sports/Outdoors
        ▼
        • Sports
        • Birds
        • Nature
      Responsive Menu
      Add more content here...
      • Pittsburgh Today
        ▼
        • Regional News
        • Spotlight
        • The Pulse
        • Indicators
        • Regional Annual Report
        • Special Reports
        • Sustainability Watch
        • Pittsburgh Tomorrow Podcast
        • Contest Ideas
        • About Pittsburgh Today
      • Money
        ▼
        • Business
        • Money
        • Innovation
        • Retirement
        • Creative Capital
      • Nonprofits
        ▼
        • Leadership
        • Region
        • Nonprofits
        • Education
        • Environment
        • Events
      • People
        ▼
        • Profiles
        • Obituaries
        • Arrivals
        • American Spirit
      • Home/Lifestyle
        ▼
        • Homes
        • Travel
        • Food & Wine
        • Restaurant Reviews
        • Shopping
      • Culture
        ▼
        • Arts
        • Books
        • Opinion
        • Architecture & Neighborhoods
        • PQ Poem
        • History
        • Calendar
      • Health
        ▼
        • Health
        • Science
      • Sports/Outdoors
        ▼
        • Sports
        • Birds
        • Nature
      Responsive Menu
      Add more content here...
      • Pittsburgh Today
        ▼
        • Regional News
        • Spotlight
        • The Pulse
        • Indicators
        • Regional Annual Report
        • Special Reports
        • Sustainability Watch
        • Pittsburgh Tomorrow Podcast
        • Contest Ideas
        • About Pittsburgh Today
      • Money
        ▼
        • Business
        • Money
        • Innovation
        • Retirement
        • Creative Capital
      • Nonprofits
        ▼
        • Leadership
        • Region
        • Nonprofits
        • Education
        • Environment
        • Events
      • People
        ▼
        • Profiles
        • Obituaries
        • Arrivals
        • American Spirit
      • Home/Lifestyle
        ▼
        • Homes
        • Travel
        • Food & Wine
        • Restaurant Reviews
        • Shopping
      • Culture
        ▼
        • Arts
        • Books
        • Opinion
        • Architecture & Neighborhoods
        • PQ Poem
        • History
        • Calendar
      • Health
        ▼
        • Health
        • Science
      • Sports/Outdoors
        ▼
        • Sports
        • Birds
        • Nature
      Responsive Menu
      Add more content here...
      • Pittsburgh Today
        ▼
        • Regional News
        • Spotlight
        • The Pulse
        • Indicators
        • Regional Annual Report
        • Special Reports
        • Sustainability Watch
        • Pittsburgh Tomorrow Podcast
        • Contest Ideas
        • About Pittsburgh Today
      • Money
        ▼
        • Business
        • Money
        • Innovation
        • Retirement
        • Creative Capital
      • Nonprofits
        ▼
        • Leadership
        • Region
        • Nonprofits
        • Education
        • Environment
        • Events
      • People
        ▼
        • Profiles
        • Obituaries
        • Arrivals
        • American Spirit
      • Home/Lifestyle
        ▼
        • Homes
        • Travel
        • Food & Wine
        • Restaurant Reviews
        • Shopping
      • Culture
        ▼
        • Arts
        • Books
        • Opinion
        • Architecture & Neighborhoods
        • PQ Poem
        • History
        • Calendar
      • Health
        ▼
        • Health
        • Science
      • Sports/Outdoors
        ▼
        • Sports
        • Birds
        • Nature
      Responsive Menu
      Add more content here...
      • Pittsburgh Today
        ▼
        • Regional News
        • Spotlight
        • The Pulse
        • Indicators
        • Regional Annual Report
        • Special Reports
        • Sustainability Watch
        • Pittsburgh Tomorrow Podcast
        • Contest Ideas
        • About Pittsburgh Today
      • Money
        ▼
        • Business
        • Money
        • Innovation
        • Retirement
        • Creative Capital
      • Nonprofits
        ▼
        • Leadership
        • Region
        • Nonprofits
        • Education
        • Environment
        • Events
      • People
        ▼
        • Profiles
        • Obituaries
        • Arrivals
        • American Spirit
      • Home/Lifestyle
        ▼
        • Homes
        • Travel
        • Food & Wine
        • Restaurant Reviews
        • Shopping
      • Culture
        ▼
        • Arts
        • Books
        • Opinion
        • Architecture & Neighborhoods
        • PQ Poem
        • History
        • Calendar
      • Health
        ▼
        • Health
        • Science
      • Sports/Outdoors
        ▼
        • Sports
        • Birds
        • Nature
      Responsive Menu
      Add more content here...
      • Pittsburgh Today
        ▼
        • Regional News
        • Spotlight
        • The Pulse
        • Indicators
        • Regional Annual Report
        • Special Reports
        • Sustainability Watch
        • Pittsburgh Tomorrow Podcast
        • Contest Ideas
        • About Pittsburgh Today
      • Money
        ▼
        • Business
        • Money
        • Innovation
        • Retirement
        • Creative Capital
      • Nonprofits
        ▼
        • Leadership
        • Region
        • Nonprofits
        • Education
        • Environment
        • Events
      • People
        ▼
        • Profiles
        • Obituaries
        • Arrivals
        • American Spirit
      • Home/Lifestyle
        ▼
        • Homes
        • Travel
        • Food & Wine
        • Restaurant Reviews
        • Shopping
      • Culture
        ▼
        • Arts
        • Books
        • Opinion
        • Architecture & Neighborhoods
        • PQ Poem
        • History
        • Calendar
      • Health
        ▼
        • Health
        • Science
      • Sports/Outdoors
        ▼
        • Sports
        • Birds
        • Nature
      Responsive Menu
      Add more content here...
      • Pittsburgh Today
        ▼
        • Regional News
        • Spotlight
        • The Pulse
        • Indicators
        • Regional Annual Report
        • Special Reports
        • Sustainability Watch
        • Pittsburgh Tomorrow Podcast
        • Contest Ideas
        • About Pittsburgh Today
      • Money
        ▼
        • Business
        • Money
        • Innovation
        • Retirement
        • Creative Capital
      • Nonprofits
        ▼
        • Leadership
        • Region
        • Nonprofits
        • Education
        • Environment
        • Events
      • People
        ▼
        • Profiles