Such Is Life

Such a fine expression, if
You can wholly live in it,

The shrugged shoulders, the wry grin,
The sidewise tilt of the chin,

Not even hinting at bliss,
But not sarcastic, not grim.

A kind of taking it in
As willing to live with it—

Such is life. It always splits.
It lingers. Then it goes quick,

A river of waves that drift
Beneath your limbs as you drift

Along in them. Lift. Drop. Lift.
Again. Lift. Drop. Swim. Sink. Swim.

It’s not your call to keep it.
It keeps you, takes you with it.