The Pace of Life

by Iván Iglesias

He was tired of how
life goes on without a pause
but there was nothing
he could do about it.
It was the only life he had
the only life he could live.

Things started to slow down
a little
in his path,
but he felt
that the heavy and accelerated burden
of time in his lungs
was making him lose track
of who
he really was.

Only time could teach him 
that life has a pace 
for everything. 
The clock continued moving its hands 
in repeated cycles 
and with every click 
he could taste again 
the sweet, 
the bitter 
moments 
of the past, but every time 
they seemed to be 
more…………………………….. distant.

Suddenly
a tear was shed
a white, shiny thread of hair
fell off
then, there was

silence…

---

Iván Iglesias

8/31/2021

A native of Colombia, Iván Iglesias holds a Ph.D. in Comparative Literature and Cultural Studies from the University of Arkansas. His area of specialty concentrates on the theme of neoliberal violence in Latin American literature. In his poems, it is clear to observe his obsession with the passing of time and the theme of death. He has published in literary magazines such as Hiedra, Céfiro, and Pegaso among others. He is currently an Associate Professor of Spanish at John Brown University.