LATE

Feet pound the pavement

as the rain pours down.

 

Roughly exhale

with rasping sound.

 

Street lights blink,

then go out,

 

I run on,

pushing past doubt.

 

If I’m late

I cannot forgive.

 

Enter a neighborhood,

all lights are out.

 

There is no movement,

there is no sound

 

but my pounding feet

and rasping breath.

 

I come to a house

and try not to pause.

 

My heart pounds in my chest,

like a crowd with applause.

 

I turn the handle

of the unlocked door.

 

The lights are out

but I must know more.

 

Fumbling hands

search for the switch.

 

A scream tears from my throat

as my eyes focus

but can’t close.

 

Before me

is the scene

I raced here to stop.

 

Slide down the wall,

I can’t stand on my own.

 

I have given up.

 

A life has been lost.