Time
Time’s up
What now?
A long time ago
we used to hope
for Christmas and Summer
But now the snow’s hardened
and it was stupid to jump up on the low wall
flat wide cement where hightop post-church-league-
basketball-practice sneakers feel cozy and open
of a black winter night.
Look down at the other side
that’s a long drop
into yon
dumpster

Time
Time’s done
What now?
Many fat yellow moons ago ago
democracy peace and health
were all guaranteed by some special treaty
But now the sky’s gray and pretty long young-women-hair whips this way and that
Gosh it was stupid to sit on the low wall leaning back your fool ankles crossed swinging
Weisst du dass das ein langer Fall ist? Was? Nein! Das wusste ich nicht!
A long long way
down to the
linoleum floors
on the first floor
these curved walls
open onto a pool
of emptiness
thirty feet you’d
fall
down
onto your
fool head

Time
Time’s gone
What now?
When you crashed your bike
on the dirt ahead of the pile
of concrete rubble
and right next to a piece of
rusted rebar rising up ready to
impale eager young boys
who fall another foot closer
to their stiff intentions

Time
Time’s up
What did it all mean?
I think you were drunk
a thousand nights
and you woke up with
paper lungs
some hundreds of days
always wandering lonely
with no good ideas

Now time is up
Now the jig is up
Now there’s nothing left
but
jump out the plane
pull the ripcord
hope you land
somewhere where
they accept
failed heroes
or at least
credit cards