The Art of Patient Waiting
THE ART OF PATIENT WAITING
The art of waiting only comes eventually
After days to decades of practical practice
Staying in limbo, whether still or pacing:
As looking down the line of tracks for
An awaited train; as in a stretched-neck
Waiting to merge into traffic; like gauging the run
Of a line by counting the number of people
Ahead; and the preparing to enter
More internal rooms
Where another recline in time will begin.
We wait for seasons or service; or recognition;
We wish for an end of fears and pray for
The clearing of storms; for speedy healing;
Or for a quickened death without suffering.
We tell ourselves we are patient
Upon every minute’s glance out a window,
And applaud the grace of our twiddling fingers;
Or we go one more time playing, “I see something
Green...” with our children. We discover
How quickly busy minds grow bored, left to notice
How the stunning plants on the tables beside us
In the waiting room are really cheerless plastic.
A desire for usefulness grows: we may
Choose to pick among our mental menus;
May begin making lists; may go on
To worry that what’s expected will not come.
Feet tap. Eyes are rubbed.
It may be that despite the laws of physics,
Actions do not precipitate further actions,
That the timetables of people may, after all,
Only and always abide in the art of patient
Awaiting upon the Lord...
Through the directed dispersal of our hours
As eternal judgement will reveal.
*********. ************. **********
(c) Sally Young Eslinger 9/11/20
Thanks be to God
Copyright © Sally Eslinger | Year Posted 2020
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