i felt it when i was walking down your stairs:
my feet are failing my weight.
we smile and move
(my lungs are pressed for air
and i am blindsided by
the weight of this autumn air on my shoulders;
it moves me to dry tears)
tomorrow barges in and drags me by the wrist
into a tangle of failed expectations
(failed words, failed emotions, failed exchanges)
creeping deadlines are crawling up my neck.