Calendar

The reminder glowed silently-

two occasions, two different cities,

two events that glint fragments 

of a distressing reverie

Then the bell that signifies

it is that time when the morning stupor

must necessarily be interrupted 

to include the contrite machinations

which make the day what it is..

Next, an alarm goes off, driving

the balance out of tediously organized things

which eventually slump back with ease 

into their preferred chaotic routine

And so, turn by turn

they fill the unsuspecting hours..

these lists, these chores, these handbags

full of ambitious endeavour..

There is no column on the sheet

bright with contrasting colours

to fill in the pieces that really speak

despite the distracting chatter

No place for a pause, in the adverbial clause

when one was short of breath

on confronting an event which

throws one out of depth

No reminder for the raindrops 

that wrung melancholy out

and rid the air of the lingering, 

prickly sawdust of doubt..

No beep to mark a slice of time

that stood out on the path

filling the interstices 

between solemn epitaphs

There a space for every task,

a line for to-do lists,

a colourful enumeration

of lengthy credits

Yet, in this collage of happenings

for an imagined road

conspicuous in its absence,

an eternity goes ignored..