it's amazing to know
how quickly
a life can be taken

yours,
in particular

just grab that sharp knife
with the splitting blade
that's resting in the drawer;
just swipe that gun
stashed underneath
your dad's bed;
just grab that rope you used
for a friendly game of
tug-of-war
that's lying on your closet floor

all it takes is one second -

one single second
and your life will be over for good

the fate of your life
rests in the palms
of your frail, shaking
hands

it's incredibly fascinating
how simple
it really is


a.m.