Leftovers

And another day
has flopped down in front of you,
resting after last night's stormy
lovemaking between earth and sky -
you take your seat near where the river
whispers its secrets as it does
every morning. It shows you
its hoard of driftwood and plastic
bottles. To it, all is prized, all given
a home.

Habit has you pushing thought boats 
out into the channel hoping they'll 
be carried into the bay then out
to open sea, finally washing up
on the shores of someone else’s mind,
or sink mid ocean to become part
of something bigger although 
you can never figure out what that is.

People pass with faces carrying
an invitation and a need to talk.
Your eyes are elsewhere, staring 
through and beyond them 
as if they were glass, out pass
landscapes, air, everything -  to a place
that is no place, just nothingness.
Sometimes you feel as if 
you are about to dissolve, not knowing
into what. The river, you're sure,
would prize the leftovers.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2022

Poem

Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

Kyser Avatar
December 10, 2022 at 2:22 PM
Thought provoking, Paul. We rush through life, from one event to the next, not stopping to realize the life is the whole journey, not just the end points of our choosing. I never felt more disconnected to people than when I was in big cities like NYC. Everyone has that far-away, don't bother me look...
Willason Avatar
December 11, 2022 at 4:09 AM
Always the tension between the need to be a part of a community v the need for solitude. There seems an increasing pressure to withdraw, the by-product of our sorry state. At least thete is poetry to keep us sane. Thanks for yr comments Jeff.
Get a Premium Membership
Turn off ads, get more exposure for your poetry, and get more features with a Premium Membership.
Book: Diverse Voices: The Poetry of Human Rights and the Pursuit of Peace