a reprieve

like a man on his last legs
or wasting on death row
i pray for some reprieve
but way down deep i know
that for me it’s quite
impossible —
and anyhow those
rivers of life still flow
from frozen mountaintops
in desolate grace
through barren deserts
like outer space
until cold cold waters
reach that place
where wave and sand
embrace
so dare to take a stand
my friend
for the race has just begun
and there are years
and years yet to go
before your course
is done.