Direction

by Tom King 

Did you hear tomorrow on the wind?
I did, just then, a whisper like leaves rustling
Expectantly, waiting for me to catch up;
Tomorrow runs ahead, a puppy chasing frisbees.
Romping off across the meadow in roughly the direction
Of my errant lead, bending the blades of grass
Without breaking them or leaving tracks behind.

Did you see today when it sneaked in early?
It startled me; bumped me out of bed.
Slothfully lying in late without a doctor's note,
Today drags me hour to hour to hour;
Relentless, one foot before the other weaving
Back and forth between the sun, its rise and fall,
Tracing the tracks I leave in the dirt.

Do you feel yesterday watching you from the bushes?
There's this feeling you get on the back of your neck,
Prickly, warm like you forgot something you needed.
Yesterday dogs your heels, catches up from time to time
Poking you on occasion, making you think
About the ruts you made back down the road; nagging.
Should you be going this way at all?

© 2011