In an instant.

A poem on life and how we may take things for granted.

Take a breath, and exhale

That's how quickly people come and go

Shoot a text, while you drive

See how fast your life can change

Go to sleep, when you're restless

The next day never seems to come

Say you're sorry, call your friend

You may never see them again

Tell your folks, how much you care

You only get so much time with them

Fall in love, take a chance

That's all we really want in life

-

I wanted to write something that wasn't so focused on rhyming, although some of it I guess technically does. I still wanted to have a flow to it, song-like, but still free verse in nature. I've had a lot of time to reflect on people who have come and go in my life, people who make an effort, people who don't.

I do believe everyone comes in and out of our lives for a reason. Sometimes it's hard to understand the why in the moment, especially when it hurts. But I do think we take a lot of things for granted, myself included. I get caught up in the negative things and it's still something I work on on a daily basis. Nevertheless, I've made leaps and bounds in that department.

I guess I just wanted to convey that life can be so quick, and yet so long. Flights that felt like forever, or a long concert that felt like it was only ten minutes long. It's interesting how our minds can play tricks on us in that regard. I think, at the end of the day, we all want to love and be loved; to be heard, to be listened to, and to feel as though the people we care about care for us.

-JTC