There’s Still Time

Whim, miscalculation, leaps of faith.   

Let me count the ways I screwed-up, 

if there are numbers enough in the black-

holey universe. Specifics get bogged 

in listing wreck sub-genre. Let’s declare 

history a grave site, swim back to light, 

to colonies of corals, to oxygen.  

This time I’ll avoid narrowing sea caves 

that fail to open into imagined palaces 

with buxom mermaids and treasure chests.

Attuned instinct needs no sign that says, 

Dead End Ahead  but mine, often, 

was out of tune. I am human so 

did learn something: Even now, 

on this quest for a place to rest,

I retain the capacity to run aground 

and injure others if they are dozy 

enough to putter in my wake. 

There’s still time for error and 

that is a priceless piece of info.