life reduced to despair
life reduced to despair
time slows or hurries but never seems to completely stop
as age continues to accumulate baggage breaks the back
wisdom or merely being clever crawling towards the top
not knowing if to halt or hesitate as a light turns to black
now waters rise imperceptibly as if to remain unnoticed
until they tantalize the dry lips and taunt a rasping throat
it drizzles around surreptitiously an angry serpent hissed
when reached for the water dips the heart begins to bloat
stone chaffs upon the shoulders muscles heave and push
tied tight to a point of breaking all bunched and knotted
a measurement of the boulders as the weary arms adjust
at the edge of freedom for taking one step back besotted
now life is reduced to despair as the future looms darkly
no healing nor chance of repair as death advances starkly