Decimal Rhythm

One, two, three, four— (uh)

Wait.

Start again. Seven hours of sleep

Eight stops to work Thirty-one before I thought I should know what

I was worth Five unread messages Two cups before noon

I keep adding up the days Like they’re going somewhere soon

I know the numbers

I know the dates

I know exactly

How long I’m late

I counted everything Except the things that mattered Every mile Every year

Every rung upon the ladder I counted everything Trying to get it

right Then you laughed And I lost count For the first time

All night

Twelve months in a plan Ten years in my head How much

money should I make Before I’m doing well?

Three minutes on a call One second before goodbye Funny how the

smallest things Refuse to fit inside

No column for

The way it felt No number for

Becoming someone else

I counted everything Except the things that mattered Every mile

Every year Every rung upon the ladder

I counted everything Trying to get it right Then you laughed

And I lost count For the first time

All night

Seven

Five Seven

Four Seven

Five— (ooh)

What am I counting for?

Maybe I’m early

Maybe I’m late

Maybe there isn’t A number for this place Maybe a life

Doesn’t add up

Maybe that’s enough

I counted everything Except the things that mattered All the years All

the plans All the answers I was after I counted everything Then

let it go

One

Two

Three—

I don’t know

Wrong again.

Good.