waking up

when you arise
in the middle of
the night to go
to the bathroom
again, because you
are old and must
dispose of that
one ounce of liquid
that needs to leave
your body, and you
feel the cold floor
on your feet,
and your bones
sway and creak, and
the dog looks up
and shakes his
head at you in
the shadow of the room,
you can't help but
wonder, how much
longer you have.