My enemy. My friend.

only through memory
in the mind–in the eye
Mark the passage
dawn to dusk
day to month

My enemy. My friend.

You take and give
pain in reflections

You gnaw—
at who I am
and dissolve my love
steal the moment
that which is most precious

Without you I am nothing,
With you I will be nothing.

And if I halved the span to the moment a thousand times –
A million times—a billion times—never will I catch you.

I cannot see, smell, taste or touch you,
but I know that you exist –

Only I can see that you are always with me –
My enemy. My friend.
You give and take from me everything,
You hector me no quiet respite day or night

Rob me of vitality—
Draw lines across my face–
dry up my mind
turn my bones to dust –