In a Minute

Minutes flash, seconds tick. How much longer do we have to laugh this time?

The cotton brocade, crimson and ivory, is brought down harshly, cut in half this time.

 

Now watch; corporate carpet, dress shoes a dusty, matte black.

Tacky and viscous, neon glitter melts over my face this time.

 

A dull screen, my loyalist companion, reflects harried eyes,

Flitting - faffing - I realize I’m out of time.

 

A lazy swill of headiness, the TV salesperson wants my number,

for soda or tylenol or pens; I waited for a long time.

 

Hypothetical palm meets hypothetical face, glare - shout - scream,

Rings on a finger pad imprint delicately and now I’m having a good time.

 

Sneakers cross and criss cross and cross and criss cross and . . .

And suddenly, quickly, swiftly, rapidly, Time!

 

Stuffed armchair, table of lilies, cup of earl grey stews for 2 minutes, 

Start up, wake up, what’s the time?

 

Chronos looks on, starry beard racing among the galaxies,

Snap! - I have no time.

 

Dreaming, long, cold, grey strings, pulled taut and then thickened, hard.

Kairos fails me, I leap back in time.

 

Seeing with my eyes put out, lashes thin and pale,

Strong arms pull me down, down, down, Aion, it is time.

 

There’s 60 seconds in a minute, and I

Waste them all this time.

Posted in response to the challenge Timeless.

Zozie

NJ

18 years old

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