Kaleidoscope Magazine

tic tic tic
the clock starts and so starts the race
the cry of a baby enters your ears, in one and out the other
the next thing you know the only thing filling your head is the giggles of kids playing in
the yard
the buzzing bees and the barking dog
pop, another blink and another birthday gone by
the clicking of a camera isn’t a match for the fast race pace your on
colorful red hats shoot in the air, hoots and hollers filling the air soon after
the slam of your car trunk, these a pause, a plea to slow down
out of breath and struggling to keep up
church bells ring and white tulle hits you in the face, the wind lending your lungs with air
to finish this race
tape the boxes then label them, like an assembly line moving fast
still trying to catch up, still trying to catch your breath
a breath of fresh air hits your lungs, just when you think there will be a break, there is a
curve up ahead
the steady beat of monitors fill the room
something wet hits your cheek and suddenly the race seems to stop
things were moving so fast you can’t adjust to the new speed
a simple request to slow down
the pen and paper work together in unison, seemingly making the race restart
the paper is stained with ink and smudged
the letter is folded and put away, and that’s when you see it
the finish line, its so close you could touch it
it’s only now you realize the name of the game and that no one ever truly wins
when you finally reach the finish line you know you beat the game
you won
in a race against time you had the best time of all