we waited as children

time draped carelessly over our shoulders

so lightly that we did not care

we could find another hour or two or three

hanging warm from the sun

on the line stretched out back

we waited as adults

time crammed into backpacks and bags

heavier now but still unregarded

we’d grab spare minutes along with coffee

whenever we needed extra

we waited as elders

time spread across the table

weighty memories of things that never happened at all

broken pieces of too many jigsaw lifetimes

that trembling hands could not fit together

we died and there was an end to waiting