Deadlines

Deadlines
by Leslie Williams

Deadlines
   Dead. Lines.
As dead as the ink on the page.
My mind is racing.
My heart is pumping
all for a deadline I can't maintain.

"I need this."
"I need that."
You. You. You. You. You.

But where do I fit in?
When do I get to make
someone else feel the same
urgency because of
something that I need?

Never.
And do you know why?
Because it is not about me
but always about
Them.

In the category of Them,
place any and everyone...
Everyone but
me.

Deadlines are creating
   dead lines.
My veins collapse
My spirit wanes
I am a dead line.