That One Thing

Cynthia Leslie-Bole

you wait for that one thing
suspecting you’ve lost it
though you’ve never owned it
never even glimpsed it
nor had the chance to touch it
you wait searching in your heart
as though rifling through a purse
in search of the
keys to the kingdom
you wait as cups of coffee empty
as hair bleeds out its color
as children fledge
you wait straining to hear
whispers of wanting
intimations of birthing
portents of veils lifting
you wait squinting to catch
your true self ghosting the mirror
you wait without knowing that
the act of waiting scares it away
passive expectation
critical evaluation
impatient denigration
all scare it away
if you desire it you must
welcome rather than wait for it
cajole rather than corral it
humor rather than harass it
you open to that one thing
embracing it like a lost twin
sharing champagne and crudités
celebrating the reunion
as it comes home inside of you
where it has always been
waiting just for you