For an Unseen Finish Line

by Laurie D. Smith

Time is a distance runner,

concentrating on his clock work stride,

pacing out duration

for an extra-peripheral world.

Epochs are left

sunken footprints in the sand,

history vanquished by the tide—

And he steady goes on

absorbed in his breathing

“Day in, night out …

Exhale dark, inhale light …”

His heart beats eternity.

Various human sorts have flailingly

tried to keep pace

with the new-to-ancient echo

But the sound drowns out mortality.

And time is a distance runner.

Long.