And they paused and looked at their lives
And realised it was more appearance than substance
And more busyness than sanity

When the rushing subsided
They were embarrassed
But thankful to wake up
from a kind of trance

And they walked out into the sunshine
With loved ones
Cooked their own food
And held each other a little closer

They woke up
And all it took
Was the reminder
Of the skeletal hand on their shoulder
That had been there all along