I sat here at this table many years ago.
The door was on State then, not Chicago;
three shops sold coffee here since.
On Tuesday evenings, a homeless man muttered
to himself at the window, staring
into his coffee, while I ran through
course notes at the next table, coughing
on his stench, not knowing which night
might be my last, not even aware that last
would come. Papers to grade, translations
from the Greek, my first child stretching
my belly and sweater, pressing forward.
Now all I can do is wonder, search the room
for something constant to tie me back;
men muttering by the window. As I study
the seams along the floor, the heavy
outside air holds twenty years ago
and today in a single, paused sigh,
ponders the verses it spares,
deeding them to me to unravel, in time.
10 responses to “Karma”
Can we go back, other than to ponder? I know it doesn’t seem to stop me.
Not sure. Sometimes it seems a lot more than pondering … 🙂
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As always, you’ve painted the place so strongly. That sigh of the last stanza…*sigh*
The puzzle of this otherness in language, in humanity, in time; but the confidence despite everything that it can be unraveled.
Maybe more confident than I meant — 🙂
takes one right back in time… beautiful
Thank you! So glad you liked it.
Riveting last stanza!
Thank you! I have been kicking that stanza around for over a year. Glad it work for you.
this fine poem reminds me of how strongly a place can affect us.
Thank you so much. I really appreciate that feedback.
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