As we approached the time
that had been announced
for the end of the world,
I packed away the large
coffee mugs and took out
the smaller ones, hoping
to reduce the chance
I’d be awake when it happened.

As we approached the time
that thad been suggested
would bring us the end of the world,
I took out my winter clothes
and and put them into
donation bins, hoping that
the next big species would find a use
for them. I wanted to be
as bare as possible when it came,
to sleep in comfort as it washed in.

As we approached the time
that had been foretold
for the end of the world,
I paid all the bills and emptied
all my accounts, canceled all my subscriptions
and memberships, sat back  satisfied
that if it didn’t happen
I’d be in good shape upon waking, cool
and rested and solvent — and if it did happen
I’d perish knowing tha while it didn’t matter
I could die knowing I’d done my best
to leave little trace of myself in the ruins
of the mess I’d help to make of the world.