Fish in a Barrel

Prowling invisibly

Stalking divisibly

Mocking me risibly—

Intently relentless

***

Cautionary tales

Of pulmonary rales

On Biblical scales—

Intensely repentless

***

Death in a barrel, dressed

In morbid apparel, pressed

Sordid cabal crests

For cocking my gallows

***

We each get our 42 gallons*

Before we are shredded by dispassionate talons

The older we age the louder the calls on

Each of us to rest in a place farther hallowed

***

We swim, many, in a big pond, small

Or dominate, some, in a small pond, tall

Despite the buoyancy, our water will fall

To the bottom of our bespoke barrels

***

Cramming for finals by grabbing my Bible

Damning my death but conceding the cycle

Won't overwait forgoing my title

Death aims and torpedos, I swim down the spiral

*******

* A barrel, officially, is designated to be 42 gallons.