John Samuel Tieman: A First Draft

a cloudburst but not
a cloud – you always wonder
about the sources
of your words – which came first – I
you we

When you look up from your computer screen, look up from something that isn’t working, when you gaze out the window and down the street at the ball game in the playground there, when you judge the weather to be pleasant enough, when you’ve already been sitting for an hour, working, inspired then erasing, rewriting, then rewriting, explaining to yourself that you must get away, that you must dress, that you were a teacher once, that you must go to that playground, take charge, that you must make sure these kids play well, play fair, that you even plan to slam the door as you leave, when all this brings you focus, when you feel that moment of emotional control – then, when you reach to finish the last cold bit of coffee in your cup here, when you reconsider your screen, when you hit “Save” and turn away, this is when you get up and go to the kitchen, pour yourself a warm cup and consider this bit of fantasy well done.

finally early
evening and you unlatch
the front door and wait
through the long evening silence
the leaves beneath her footsteps

—

Copyright 2015 John Samuel Tieman