the insistence of time

time has one goal for you in mind.

bearing down as the heaviest weight imaginable

it doesn’t look good in the mirror

it doesn’t do your taxes for you

it doesn’t read you bedtime stories when you can’t sleep

it doesn’t provide comfort when you have nothing but fear

it doesn’t allow you to rest when you have worked so hard

it doesn’t give you a gold star for being a good girl scout

it doesn’t do a thing

but draw down your skin

& make each step harder

each step a possible stumble

a possible snapped bone

or gash in your kneecap

which may heal when you are young &

you may jump right back up---

but as the years take their toll,

it may become more difficult to bounce right back

like that inflatable clown you used to punch

when you were just a

kid---

but the thing is,

that’s really all you have---

just like the clown,

you have a thin skin of bright colors and a smile that will wrinkle

when the air inside is let out---

so you keep that smile wide

and those eyes peering

bouncing back and forth with every punch

coming right back to as close to a stable balance that you can

until the next fist comes---

we are all engaged in that spiteful rock against the

wind---

time,

throwing fists at us, and more than not,

connecting---

but we keep bouncing

with that creepy smile on our face,

caked on makeup &

bright fire orange hair

until that moment when

lady gaga

sues us for

copyright infringement.