POETRY

Break These Precious Chains

Life, right now, in all the Universe, here we are

Dall-E

I live happy and
I live free
because I’ve spent my life
breaking the chains
that were born with my wrists
And here where I find myself
Haughty and able to reflect,
I do direct my first gaze inward
And chuckle aloud for now I see —
the final chain is life itself
for we are entwined in the spiral
toward not-life
or whatever more fit term
might apply.

For is not that the ultimate
Guarantee
that chips aplenty
or bank run dry:
Life is the lock,
Death is the key?

The metaphorical chains
unlink from time and space
bringing us closer to the firm
and final face of Death itself
on horseback
winged and glowing
calcite beaming as if knowing
our state of anxious wonder.