Impromptu

Arid time and things, they pass

Erase, not quite, deteriorate

Inexact as well, but depleting

Depleting.

Depleting.

.

Not exactly end, ending

Never a beginning

Ever picked up midstride

Midstream

Only ever in the midst

.

Tiring then,

Worn down,

Depleted, she said,

Exhausted,

.

and yet what from?

From what is he so tired

unto ruin?

What is ruin-ed?

What never was?

Perhaps.

.

Always midstride, then

Nearer to the end

this depletion

Depleting

.

nothing

Begun ever

Certainly nothing

ever completed.

Always midstride,

and nearer to the end,

incompleted, and

depleting

Depleting

.

Unable to keep up with 1/8 of the 9-year-old,

worrying the 10, the 17, the young man

fails the partner

fails the weather

failing his own mind

            own dreams

            his own body

.

ideas

.

Depleting

.

Always midstream,

frozen in place

nearer to the end

this present

Depleting

.

Would like to write it out

Write it off

Pick up again

Declare a start

But he can’t

or won’t

.

Nearing the end,

Never getting there,

(near completion, never that)

only begun and that just barely

joined midstride

nearer to the end

simply depleting

.

Inexorably

.

Without fail.

The one thing without fail.

The one absolute success.

The one almost-completion:

.

depletion.

Depleting

.

Always midstride

and nearer to the end –

very much like dancing

on bleeding broken legs