Before Me

It was there
always and ever
and I had not seen it
sitting in the same chair
staring but not seeing
anything before me
while wanting
to be in some other place
I had never been
though imagining always
where it must be

Perhaps

When you sat down
I thought you would stay
as if being here
was always
where you wanted to be
with someone sitting beside you
resembling who you would always need

There

I am there
where I always wanted to be
in that place with sunlight
and the rock
and the man
perhaps myself
with a stick in his hand
and the ocean so far
he can’t wet
even his smallest finger

Published in the June 2, 2017 issue: View Contents
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Jack Lindeman’s newest chapbook is Measuring Dorcas (Finishing Line Press). New poems have recently appeared in Abbey, California Quarterly, The Cape Rock, Chiron Review, Confrontation, and Poetry Now.

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