Jacob's Gauntlet

Crawling the serrated knife’s edge Oh, how the straight path to dreams winds Driving the lender’s car towards mirages retreating Tires still dry, one interview to the next Eaten a lot of oysters, no pearl yet Another day with the serial assailant of obligations Home, the abyss of borrowed things, mostly time Engulfing both horizons as door slams Broad grin of his baby, another inbound arrow Wife’s taut coral red kiss, encouraging smile, Bloodshot eyes don’t wrinkle For each tiny swollen vein another lashing Tony Robbins quote on the whiteboard by the fridge Smudged and flaking A woman is, a man becomes, it’s been said Not yet, snarls the humming silence In the merciless arena, doubt a costly luxury Maybe I’ll need a mortgage on that, too He peers down the vortex to see his inky event horizon Beguiling, giddy horror in depths, How much is my policy? No, too easy. No retreat, just so much harder If only I’d known what I still don’t know yet Then I wouldn’t be here 7/5/16 © Thomas W. Quigley