The Thin Veneer

The river is a metaphor
One we cannot escape
Because it is not a metaphor
It is time

Time is the original terrorist
All you extremist make way
There is nothing you can do

Except
Cling to joy

Joy

a thin veneer
Spandex stretched to absurdity
Over dimpled buttock and sagging ball

It has to give
As the water, the river dissolves
us all

We, brilliant tails of comets pushing
against that great friction

Time and water, time

And water and time again
These two conspire to quench
The very heart of our world.