finis

julianna mccarthy

You felt life would never end
but here it is.
Too bad you can't
go back, pick up the time lost
waiting for
the lights to change
the planes to board
the tubs to fill
the cats to come home
the sermons to end
the games to begin
the mail to arrive
the lovers to call
the dawn to break
the checks to clear
the doctors to answer
the night to fall
the ambulance to get here.

You haven't been idle
You looked around
You checked the scenery
You counted your breath
You took your pulse.

Too late.

To wait is an active verb,
wasn't it?