TIME RELIGION worshipped by ticks prayed to cease by cease up against the tides up against arthritis we appeal to next and hang on its saints the other gods are crows flying in it water flows through it toxins creep trees grow and fall wind blows could it blow outside of time the wheels under me make hymns my worship will die it will be laying with the others like a plate full of offerings sins against time are absorbed in the seasons the morning glory's greed for sun is checked by frost sunflowers' proud heads are bent in the direction their seeds are forced to go starting each morning with my knees on calendars I took up the black pen it was the hand off a clock now the face is uncertain we have been living we will have been living we will have triumphed over it again by submission to its sacrament of waiting there are sanctuaries of forgetting of sleep of being knocked in the head we have loved will be loved in it my hand was on his heart I could feel the muscle measuring a time alien to mine