the examined life, best looked at
with perhaps a clearer eye;
unclouded by late night aches and sighs-
tossing and turning. suddenly, like a light i am
on. so bright its blinding, i can

trace my shadow on the ceiling
pencil you in with my memory, i swear
you are near, here, i can hear
your heart beat
steady in time

if i hold my breath, will just this once, everything
stop.
pause,
a second--

oh wait, earth is still here?
it cracks, splits, bends and breaks, gives way
under foot, under toe
threatens to swallow me whole
like i am but a blink of an eye,
a grain of sand on your beach
beach that so warmed me
solid land in an ocean of fluid change,
shift, swift

it gives way

and crumbles into nothing,
pieces of sand
sinking into the sea.

it is calm here
water fills me and i am
no longer full but
empty.