The shadow by your side
imperceptible it hides,
dead love in
hopeless eyes
dried failure falling
off pale skin,
time eating youth
the way cancer cells do,
inside,
slowly, inexorably
minds are changing,
habits fall,
opinions harden,
dreams are sold,
experience chews on all
your body and face,
visibly, painfully,
time’s cruel sister holds
you tight
as it were a loving embrace
choking life’s breath
out of your smile
and tying your hands
to the claws of death


Sybille(Sydney)Krivenko 2007