How I wait
A retired photographer one chilly February dawn, for one more gentle explosion in the sky to catch on film.
A fourth grade class, for the hands of the clock to bend to nine, to unwrap a sandwich, to chase each other around the room, to not sit with both hands on the desk.
The sixth man on the team, for the chance to strip off his warmers, to hear his shoes squeaking on hardwood, to dribble the ball, even once, and hear its sound reverberate across the stands.
A newly wedded woman, for an envelope to rip, for words from him to devour, to search for signs of pain and need from him, to remember the point of all these things, these things from him from him him him.
A tired, agitated, cuffs-and-tie loosened man, pacing the hospital halls, oh is she well, but to sleep, to sleep, oh yes oh shit the baby our kid --
A vintage sports car with the top down, on a Sunday, the empty University Avenue, at the red light, not caring, beaming, glinting, purring, at the red light,
An archer, eye squinting from concentration and sweat and the sun, bow string taut, prey moving into his sights.
Oh No no no no no
A rat for the cat to sleep even just to turn his head to blink
A thief for the cop car to pass for the lights to fade for the sirens to fade for the adrenalin to fade
The second place winner for next season to come
A dying man for tomorrow or for death to please, come today.
A fourth grade class, for the hands of the clock to bend to nine, to unwrap a sandwich, to chase each other around the room, to not sit with both hands on the desk.
The sixth man on the team, for the chance to strip off his warmers, to hear his shoes squeaking on hardwood, to dribble the ball, even once, and hear its sound reverberate across the stands.
A newly wedded woman, for an envelope to rip, for words from him to devour, to search for signs of pain and need from him, to remember the point of all these things, these things from him from him him him.
A tired, agitated, cuffs-and-tie loosened man, pacing the hospital halls, oh is she well, but to sleep, to sleep, oh yes oh shit the baby our kid --
A vintage sports car with the top down, on a Sunday, the empty University Avenue, at the red light, not caring, beaming, glinting, purring, at the red light,
An archer, eye squinting from concentration and sweat and the sun, bow string taut, prey moving into his sights.
Oh No no no no no
A rat for the cat to sleep even just to turn his head to blink
A thief for the cop car to pass for the lights to fade for the sirens to fade for the adrenalin to fade
The second place winner for next season to come
A dying man for tomorrow or for death to please, come today.