again

again

-- grace

the alarm rings in quarters and dimes

airhorns blasting through the quiet night—

the day covered in blankets of grey

eyes peel open to see the white

clouds and hearts weigh loud and clear

badum badum the heart dear screams

oh waking again and again

death was but a corner away

the alarm ring chases death and so it lay

down in the corner between fifth and sixth

street and time and air came back in sync

then routine steps foot off the bed

not quite awake, so stumble instead

wash, brush, eat, don't fall asleep—

earth, a magnet for the weak

eyes open but unseeing

ears hearing but not listening

mouths moving not registering

again and again the simulation starts

again and again they move

zombies in day

humans at night

and the time passes by—

nothing

cut.

again.