constricted
by a construct
which despite
many uses is an
abstract issuing anxieties

i used to have
to leave early
inherent uncertainties
in traffic migration
need room for error

now i know to
the exact minute
when i will arrive
and i struggle to
recall a time before

still i sit in half
empty parking lots
half an hour early
out of primal need to
not stress over being late

as children we find it
easy to shrug off the
falling grains of sand
but lately all i feel is
the heavy weight accumulated