Let’s Try This Again

The earth takes a turn
For the earth. For once,
Waking up doesn’t

Find you thinking first
Of the estimates
Of human lives done,

Human lives begun
During that one turn.
This morning, you think

Of the survivors,
All those who started
The turn still breathing

And came around
By the iron clock,
Also still breathing.

That’s quite a gang, quite
A lot of you did
And have done and will

Have done, ten thousand,
Twenty thousand, some
Thirty thousand times,

Your daily cohort,
Everyone spinning,
All ancients of days.