aftermath

as if the number of your lives
is what you’ve got to choose
as if the remedy is prize
at neverending cruise,
as if this world has place for all
of us who’ve lost our path,
who feel both powerful and small,
and done the aftermath

so i’m embracing everything – 
the living and the dead,
the neighbor, trading wedding ring
for love she’s never had,
the grandma, saving memories,
the granddad, losing all,
and us who walk the earth at ease,
before we neatly fall

the envelopes of vinyl tapes
smell like the ancient books
what if we’ve chosen the escapes
just judging by the looks?
there’s mostly nobody to teach
that it’s just fine to quit,
so while it’s still within my reach,
i’ll tell each one i meet