Down Hill Fast

Never been one to move quickly
Even as a child
the pace was measured
careful
behind the safety
of an apartment window
observing, always observing
first.

There are times
when slow equals stopped
a zero sum game
with no transfer of energy.

When observation is death.

This time
the payoff matrix
is directly related to speed
terminal velocity
down the fall line
a clock ticking against
my heartbeat
the line of greatest slope
gradient.

The end isn’t so far away
fear a cloud behind my eyes
my body an avalanche
downhill fast
cold air condensing the heart
focusing the breath.

Sleep can come
later
in the inertia of recollection
when the painful pulse of adrenalin
ceases.