wrinkle-creams and consciences

i am a temporary moment

a space upon the clock

before the lines rearrange themselves

into red dotted lines

which are the present

if you sign here

and sell your soul away

of if you want

-the sea witch adds-

i'll simply take your voice

in collateral

till later when you collapse

under the interest rates

and then i'll claim your future as my own

i'll pour it into 

this glass

which balances within itself

an upside-down pyramid

on this slender stem

and there you will slosh about

a semi-clear liquid

with just a bit of a kick

that rises from those bitter dreams

and someday when you are old

and fully soured

and withh all the sharp edges of life

to render you mature

she will drink you down

and smack her lips

and wipe them clean

with the smallest white handkerchief you've ever seen

and the girl sitting there with her hopes and dreams

across from her 

will think she's so much more elegant than she seems

and you will try to scream

till remembering

that that voice was the first thing

to go to go to go

and i am just the second hand

passing unheeded

an unknowing accomplice

second by second

secondhand to Time.