A memory in Poetry: Plus

Plus

Tick, t...ick..., t..i..ck..., t...i...c...k...
I urge the second hand forward
While desperately clinging to the simple now
My breath charges ahead
inoutinoutinoutinout
Shivering, I wipe sweat from my brow
I wonder, how I can be hot and cold
Want things fast and slow at the same time.

The doting waiter at Drag’s saw to everything
Pouring wine,and shmoozing
As he scurried I traced the gold letters
“Happy Birthday to my Wife” on the card
Wife... a new word, a dreamcometrue word
But in a breath bliss gives way to terror
The scent of sizzling steak ripped at my stomach
“I’m gonna be sick” and the walls came for me

Wal-Mart’s probing lights watched me knowingly
As I worked to conceal The Test between M&Ms and shampoo
A smile from the clerk who saw this everyday
We left hand in hand, hearts racing, stomachs in knots
The weight of silence pressed against our lips
Making it impossible to discuss the possible
Just married... could it be... when was my last...
Counting and recounting, 28, 29, 37, 41, 46...

Tick, t...ick..., t..i..ck..., t...i...c...k...
I urge the second hand forward
While desperately clinging to the simple now
F..i..v..e.. m..i..n..u..t..e..s.. i...s... a... l...i...f...e..t..i..m..e
“Well?” he says, arms folded, leaning on the doorway
WIth shaking hands I raise the key to our future
Unmistakably clear, where once had been nothing
Was the pale pink sign of life.