Livestock wriggle and tug at their restraints.
Their time is up, its market day. 
As will ours in the greater scheme of things.

What leaves do we reach for 
while mortgages and dysfunctional relationships 
garrotte our necks? 

Laurels? Mint? Tobacco?
We make the most of our trickle of time 
for the knife is sharpened on the butcher's block. 

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