Too Soon Past

by Kevin Sinclair

Working hard to make the money
No time left for a life
Forever moving, always doing
No time to feel the cut of the knife
Didn't know that it had happened
The moment was gone before I knew
Couldn't sit down for a quiet moment
No time to conduct a review.

Faster and faster the wheel turned
No thought to take a rest
Thought everything moved in a straight line
Never considered I could be second best
Too soon past and no time left
Didn't know I was caught in a whirlpool
Going in circles to slowly drown
All the time looking like a fool.

Hadn't looked at my face in the mirror
Hadn't seen the pain I couldn't feel
Thought that my life was like a rose
Didn't know the thorns were real
Blood slowly dripped from my hands
A bright red puddle on the floor
Wondered where it had come from
As I turned and walked out the door.

Why do realisations happen suddenly?
Why does it take so long to change?
Why can eyes be so blind to not see
That the time has come to rearrange?
Why didn't I notice the gauge was empty?
Why couldn't I stop and just be?
Too much action, not enough reflection
Too late to realise I wasn't free.

Too soon past and no time left
To whom did I think I was being true
The mirror doesn't lie
Couldn't look myself in the eye
Felt like one of the disgraced few
Now there's nothing left in sight
Emptiness fills the void
And slowly day moves into night.

Drifting away into darkness
Like a burnt out star in decline
Numb to the feelings
Always thought I felt fine
Questions may have been asked
But truth wasn't something to speak
Games had been played to the full
Wins were all I could seek.

Today is gone forever
Tomorrow knocks at my door
Have to make a fateful decision
Do I want to be rich or poor?
Have I the time to think?
Is there a price to pay?
Will I try to be different?
Will I find new words to say?

This poem is from a collection of poetry by Kevin Sinclair. For a listing of other poems by Kevin published on this site, click here.