“Present”

by

Sometimes I look around at the aging people, at the ticking clocks, at the draining batteries, at the rusting metal

And I know my future

But when asked what I’m feeling with my fingertips, asked what I taste on my tongue, asked what I smell, asked how hard I’m breathing

I only ever know what’s distracting me

I only ever know the pain of repetition 

What place do I hold in the present?

Only time will tell.