the insistence of time

bearing down as the heaviest weight imaginable
it doesn’t look good in the mirror
it doesn’t do your taxes for you
it doesn’t read you bedtime stories when you can’t sleep
it doesn’t provide comfort when you have nothing but fear
it doesn’t allow you to rest when you have worked so hard
it doesn’t give you a gold star for being a good girl scout
it doesn’t do a thing
but draw down your skin
& make each step harder
each step a possible stumble
a possible snapped bone
or gash in your kneecap
which may heal when you are young &
you may jump right back up---
but as the years take their toll,
it may become more difficult to bounce right back
like that inflatable clown you used to punch
when you were just a
kid---
but the thing is,
that’s really all you have---
just like the clown,
you have a thin skin of bright colors and a smile that will wrinkle
when the air inside is let out---
so you keep that smile wide
and those eyes peering
bouncing back and forth with every punch
coming right back to as close to a stable balance that you can
until the next fist comes---
we are all engaged in that spiteful rock against the
wind---
time,
throwing fists at us, and more than not,
connecting---
but we keep bouncing
with that creepy smile on our face,
caked on makeup &
bright fire orange hair
until that moment when
lady gaga
sues us for
copyright infringement.