check the time, move your legs
don’t dawdle, get up
get going, out the door
no time for breakfast

open your itinerary, see a list quite full with
rows and rows of tasks, empty checkboxes beg for ink
speed by the park, step on the gas
under the yawning dawn, set your mind ablaze

drink the poison, only five bucks
just grab another, don’t need no rest
spin in your wheel, it powers you and me to
roll without direction, be a martyr without cause

carpe diem! the day is still young 
there’s much to do, the list goes on
forget your feelings, you left happiness behind
to find it on the horizon above

stretch your wings farther, fly into the sun
so close, yet so far
work harder, work ahead
to fall further behind, then dig yourself out

night is here, stumble onto your deathbed
ash-colored aching body, charred by hope
can close its eyes
peace at last