our days are numbered

the measuring
begins at birth.
how long is
that baby, how many
pounds, the date
the time,
the age of parents.
from there it gets
even more
complicated.
you might be the second
son of a family
of five,
walking at three,
talking at four,
stand still,
let me measure
your height, stand
by the door.
and then it's grades.
it's sat's,
how many years of
school. how long
have you worked here.
it's how much you
weigh, how tall you
are, how old
you are.
everyone needs a
number to let them know
who you are.
how long married,
how many times.
how long divorced,
how many children,
how long have
you lived here. how
much money do you
make, and finally
how long have you
had this illness.
when you die,
all they numbers are
added up
and carved into the
tombstone.
from start to finish,
solid proof
that you were once
alive.