Counting

reams of paper
analysis
to turn a life around

the sand glass
placed and running-out
half-gone, half-damned, upturned

and on your own
how did you prop
your body up?
how did you walk?

how many grammes of powder
did it take
to make a brain
founder?
did you stick around to find out?
did he steal a march on you?

did you do a deal with god
an angel or a devil?
did you care?

analysis to consider, weigh-up, quantify
read and write enough
to turn a life around

make sand run back
placate your lack
and cut your hand

watch the blood
and watch the sand
enough to make your time run back

did every grain count?

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