Persistence

Punch the clock at dawn	
Wake up, face another day
The chain gains a link

Run the daily race
Fulfill my obligations
Fill in all the blanks

Maybe stop a while
Along the way, and give aid
To someone in need

Find a bit of time
To reflect and search within
Remove the pitfalls

Desperately hope
No pain results from my wake
No lives are destroyed

Quietly labor
Longing for retirement
Dream of the long rest

Sometimes pondering
The consequences of just
Quitting tomorrow

But these thoughts drift past
Again punching the old clock
Another night's sleep

-megazone, working a career with limited retirement opportunities, 2/20/93