he asked where
we might be headed
and wondered who would take
us there as if
some place was already
fixed in mind or if collectively
each would follow
along with the rest like
blood that beats along arteries
pulse by expectant
pulse or the clock on the wall
which goes barely noticed as seconds
slip through your
fingers tick by insidious
tick but it’s still possible for you
to stem the flow
until there’s nothing left
to do as fate slowly pools at both
your feet frozen
to the ground of all you’ve
ever known.