PENDULUM

 

why do we say

"the clock strikes"?

who does it hit?

does time carry a billy club

to whack protestors of short life spans

oldness like numbers on the dial

seem like roman numerals with gray beards

 

the hands get tangled up in dye

as we color our moments with henna

auburn cries from underneath

blankets which warm from crib

to king size serta

to wobbly cots with stained sheets

 

i learned how to subtract

at an elderly age, when my pen wouldn't

move as fast--

 

numbers easier than letters to spell out

and life seems to dribble on bib overalls

as we try to overhaul our frames

 

but the box springs whine

then dine the grim reaper

asking that the meal be not too expensive

in pain

 

and the final ticks

slowly fade as we are

lain

among stone slabs

blankets of

sunken onion skin

on which to add up our thoughts

no longer keeping us warm.