I tried writing prose and this happened instead. First poem of 2016.
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“DOWN” – 1/4/2016
Thousands of hungry moments pushed through me by some god or some demon
Held breath, held hope, held chance, all hanging midair while I pray
DOWN – It’s over before consciousness realized it wasn’t needed
Again, faster, faster, faster, every task predetermined and strung together by ambition or insanity or arrogance or all of the above
Squeeze, hold, try again
There’s as much room for error as there is for getting back up again
DOWN – It’s your turn again, you don’t know why you’re here
Again, careful, careful, careful, every step means you’re still there and you’re still trying
Squeeze, stop, fall
Breathe, you’re still here, you’re still here, you’re still here
Thousands of tight moments pushed through us by some devil or some angel
Caught breath, caught hope, caught chance, all crowning my feet while I rest
DOWN – It’s quiet now and the speed is over and the noise lingers and my hearts sighs,
spent
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Cara Brennan