life is running out

time never runs out
at worst it runs down
and that not in our lives

life is running out into the rain
it’s cold turning to steam in two hot hearts
it’s connected by hands and driven by feet
careening down a getting-slippery winding ribbony road

life is running out of money and turning to long walks
and then losing the weight that had hung on grimly for years

life is wrung out at the end of an exhausting day
life comes back to the raddled form with nourishment and touch
life is like the tide that changed its purpose
life is sometimes no more than an inside tap on an eggshell

but life is running out
life is on the wane

but this–this thusfar–will always have happened:
all these joyful awarenesses,
all these i-see-you-how-nices…
and that must matter

and every tomorrow is another happenchance
we might be recklessly righteously courageous
we may be timid and await a better other chance
we might savor a favorite might shun the undone

if you got this far
life has not run out
i tell you the instant you read this
congratulations
i see you
how
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