becoming a body
everything slows
air
sound
time
that warm heart squeezes
with less gusto
less interested in hanging on
the lungs creak open
a smaller crack
they’re coming to rest
like a pendulum becomes plumb
eyes turn inward
focused on re-viewing not seeing
limbs move their last
they didn’t know
which would be their final stair
parting wave
goodbye kiss
the ocean pulse that runs from tip to toe
weakens
ebbs
the blue line traces
shallower crests and troughs
the electrical buzz
that hummed distractingly
in the background every moment
starts to crackle with static
sputter
flicker
like the lights in the windstorm
of a deep snow day
the circle narrows
who knows you well enough
to still see you now?
and now?
we are all going
from poor souls
to untethered bodies
mostly living less each day
but sometimes we waken
from life’s lull
to moonglow through pine boughs
and breathe some life back in
to keep our spirits stitched to our hearts
for another long midsummer day
