Racing Into Funeral Plots

Did I do it?
Just barely, with minutes to spare.

There is always too little time.
I want to do twenty-four things,
but three will have to suffice.

Life is longer at five than at thirty-eight.
At five, I had been alive forever.
I had been five forever.
Now, everything is only yesterday,
and I race headlong into five years from now.

I get letters from a local cemetery.
They insist that it's good to think ahead
when it comes to picking out our funeral plots.
I can't imagine that I'll care moments from now
when I'm relieved of this speeding meat train I'm on.

Where was I?
Oh, yes.
I was doing this.
I very nearly forgot,
but, now that I'm back, the moment's grown a little longer.

I keep forgetting that I can slow this bitch down
when I remember to see what's right in front of me.

---------------------------

The above poem is a response to Amy Turn Sharp's call for 5-minute breakfast poems on Fridays during the month of April.

Comments

[Dana]

"everything is only yesterday"
I sure hope that thought is fleeting. Incredible adventures await you.

[Tara R.]

Sometimes I feel like I'm moving at break-neck speed, only to realize I'm missing all the cool scenery.

"I keep forgetting that I can slow this bitch down/ when I remember to see what's right in front of me. " <-- this exactly!

[Kara]

Yes - the trick is in remembering the present, to let go of the past and abstain from worrying over the future.

[frelle]

living in the present, being present, is a lot harder at 38 than it was at 5. thank you for reminding me who is in charge of slowing it down and remembering to be aware.

[Amy]

the bitch has been nagging me lately as I've recently discovered 4 months past 40. slowing her down would do me some good.

[k landau]

man do i love your poetry. every time I read it, I feel compelled to write something of my own, and then realize why bother? It would never live up - I'll just wait for the next Shmoetry installment instead.

[Bridget]

"I want to do twenty-four things,
but three will have to suffice."

Story of my life. Some days I'm doing good to make it to one or two.