Life isn’t supposed to move this fast

Triptych Lantern – Bailey Foster
Silas Bradley

Life isn’t supposed to move this fast.

It should ebb and flow 

Lumbering slowly up

To slosh against the wall and recede again 

Life isn’t supposed to move this fast. 

It shouldn’t rise up so sharp

It shouldn’t push so hard 

It shouldn’t erupt so violently 

It should be peaceful.

Life isn’t supposed to move this fast.

I should see it coming,

Far at the horizon as it glides past 

Gentle breeze on my sails.

Life isn’t supposed to move this fast.

It shouldn’t become stacked

         Rocking

Teetering before it tips,

dumping.

Life isn’t supposed to move this fast.

Pounding like water

Breaking your faucet 

Flooding the sink 

And before you know it

You’ve lost it.

Life isn’t supposed to stand still.

It isn’t supposed to halt for a grinding,

shuddering,

Silent moment 

before it falls through the floor.

It shouldn’t ache 

It shouldn’t bruise

It shouldn’t burn 

It shouldn’t shake

But it does.