Cadence in Circularities

Sitting on paper lines,
watching the universe go by—
Scratch, halt.
The record stops.
This is the beginning,
where I press play:
Click, clack, to start.
And oh, how its melody
brings me serenity.

One spin, two spin,
before it reaches three.
Shivers and crashes,
a constant catastrophe.
Scratch, halt, stop—
so I pick up something new.
One spin, two spin,
this one made it to three.
A slight pause in movement,
and all my breaths
are nearly removed from me.
Then start again,
turning around and around.

Come wear and tear,
my determination is evident—
slower the sound...
But at least it moves.
Yet the unfailing disappointment
that I foresee is imminent.
One... spin, two... spin,
Scratch, halt, STOP—
This time,
not of its own accord.

I look down before me,
to where my hand is stretched forth,
pick it up carefully,
so as not to scratch its face.
Deep breaths in and out.
Put it back in the case,
open, then close.
Return it and replace.
One spin, two spin—
another record awaits.
Three spin, four spin—
this game of life is fate.