the Middle

there are stories about the beginning
once upon a time
there are songs about the ending
we'll get our happily ever after, baby

there are stories and songs and dreams
about This moment
forget everything but tonight

where is the middle?
it's somewhere in there

smushed like a
sandwich at the bottom
of a backpack,
stretched like
someone with too many
responsibilities

do we realize when
we are going through it?
do you ever wish
you had a fast forward
button in your pocket?

instead, you reach in
and remember things
but, that's the past

the right now is actually
a series of moments
stacked, sometimes in haste,
sometimes with time to waste,
that are a middle
life between your beginning
and your end-

tell me, what does that end look like?
if you're young, maybe a stable career
marriage, money, time
finishing what you swear
you are meant to do

but, first, the middle
how would that song go?