sentenced

the the hands circle faster

gaining speed in mechanical
disorder
a privilege to abide the MACHINE
a prison guard-
a jury handing down sentence

watch it as it passes
through carvings on the wall
a moment to eat and then
back to staring at four corners
again, too afraid to let the
breath pass
unnoticed
yearning for release

wait and scratch the numbers
into the skin on the back of
your arm
pacing back through yesterday
it never ends

OLD shoes tap beats to a
song that was never written
and the garbage collects there
a hidden thing doing time
waiting for the moment to
punch
the clock
and come
back tomorrow
                  at least you're paid