I watched someone almost die today
and I’d be lying if I said it didn’t bother me
I see a life flash before my eyes
a million executions play like infernal theater
on multiple screens and the protagonist
keeps walking to the stop more afraid
of missing the bus than being run over
while the driver stares blankly, maybe thinking
about something they saw on Instagram
I am troubled by this but I’m feeling an odd
sense of bliss and reverence for my senses
flooded with multiple universes deserving
every bit of my attention indexed into
stories I tell my therapist laughing at
the absurdity of it all
the majestic tapestry woven
with uneven threads and patchwork
processes humanity has distilled into
averages and medians and experts
who think they’ve outwitted god
through postulating perpetual motion
towards Hell or Nirvana or Haley’s comet
whatever stops the itch
burning a hole in our collective consciousness
regardless of our upbringing we’re wired
to ask why are we ******* here
until the question becomes heavy
and our knees buckle and we
kneel at the feet of something
other than the ground we’re standing on