T-Minus

Almost Midnight

T-Minus

10. Backward counting to ignition and launch

what goes through your mind?

What goes through theirs? What if all goes wrong?

In seconds I could be atoms free floating through the universe.

9, 8, 7 skim by with relentless speed. It’s like New Year but all alone.

Backwards counting.

The home plate umpire calls the balls and the strikes

And life looks different from the pitcher’s perspective

Everything reads backwards today.

T-Minus 6. Too late to abort and run for the hills.

What if the can blows up?

Too late to argue balls and strikes and get ejected from the field of play.

T-Minus 2. Counting backwards I count you in
I don't remember him
I don't remember .. did some Muse throw me a life line?

An epitaph or a voyage?

And somewhere in the distance an outfielder says ‘we have lift off’.

But they don’t. They are rooted to the earth whilst I, yes, I have lift off.

A home run in flight, heading out of the park.

Another hundred fingerprints I hear but they grow ever dimmer

And the black void beckons.

T-Minus 6. T-Minus 2.

Counting backwards. Happy New Year to you.

By Linda Prince 


image obtained from:
http://www.publicdomainpictures.net/view-image.php?image=152537&picture=almost-midnight