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