How Fast
One day in summer
an alien from Mars or somewhere
landed and spoke to me
from his busy mouth:
"Your hours, like rats
will keep coming
and pile high as Everest,
before that long drop down,
too fast for you to frame
or see your minutes,
their delights, as you fall."
Without a second to think,
sweat, or parry, I reposted:
"Remove your clock
and your foul mouth too -
back to Mars;
I've hours enough in this world
but not a minute to spare
for your vision or venom.
Barry Wallenstein