Things End

Things end.

That’s tragic.

The fact that they ever existed

Feels like magic.

I’m not a fan,

Being tricked by perception

Into thinking certain things are convention

That some relationships will be forever.

That she thought I was clever,

That the answer would never be “never.”

Life has a sleight of hand that

Everyone sees coming for others

But no one thinks the quarter’s behind

Their own ear.

Or that “you have cancer” is something they’d hear.

Or that life is something to fear.

Or that death is so incredibly near.

Maybe I’m the problem,

Disassociating tragedy.

But things do end.

And everyone acts like that’s

What’s supposed to happen,

As if time has been understood and

Dealt with.

Just because everything ends doesn’t mean

It should,

And that’s the magic trick this life is –

Not being surprised by its end,

But thinking that for you it never would.