Zeno’s Immortality

I have probably used up half my time
from the time of my diagnosis, statistics would say,
but that means I still have half-of-the-half that remains
and then a half-of-the-half-of-the-half after that
and so on, ad infinitum,
ensuring my immortality through a neverending sequence of half lives

—if only I had not spoiled the plot by studying calculus as a child,
knowing instead that precious fewer moments
will be found between each dwindling half hope.

Yes, the clock will run out
—for me, and maybe even for you.
Yet if we could but pay attention
perhaps we are yet immortal
between one breath
and the infinite beauty of the next.

Melih Sener