What does one measure during one’s life?
calories consumed, muscles massed, fat burned
minutes meditated, breaths taken, moments without thought
classes attended, degrees earned, loan payments one has left to make
hours clocked in, promotions earned, years left until one retires
steps taken, miles logged, points accumulated
Facebook posts, Instagram likes, Twitter arguments
books read, movies watched, concerts attended
countries visited, souvenirs collected, foreign words that one can say
pleasure with partners, partners pleasured, number of times one pleasures a partner
children made, children raised, children who still talk with one
gifts received, gifts given, gifts cherished
shared laughs, shared tears, shared silence
words said, words written, words unspoken
monologues, dialogues, polylogues
identity, intersectionality, ambiguity
with the grain, against the grain, as the grain
empty stomachs, empty bottles, empty promises
bridges, barriers, bread lines
revolutions, evolutions, absolutions
half-truths, full truths, nothing but the truths
prayers made, prayers answered, prayers unanswered
ten thousand things, ten thousand hours, ten thousand to the ten thousandth power
etcetera, etcetera, or etc.
words, words, or words
How does one measure during one’s life?
With notches, commas,
or check marks
opusculum 