The countdown is always already beginning.

For example, my favorite red flannel’s—was my father’s—

Elbows need patching. It happens and then it has

Happened. The first cruel clomp of snowfall

Falls and every object is dusted, shadowed away.

There is no least to expect it. None’s lesser, no lessons,

No legion. ‘cept when there is.

Three,

Two, one,

Zero.