Be still, Now
by Brian Rihlmann

why, this baffling heaviness?
when you expected buoyancy, or flight?
because—
it’s a loss, man...a loss
another thing gone
and no matter what you say
or what THEY say
no matter what you think you’ve learned
or how hard you imagine you’ve become
it’ll never NOT bother you
how these things go
how they always turn out

remember how you freaked out
when you dropped your keys in the river?
remember the rush, the relief,
when you found them again?

well....this is bigger

so let it bother you awhile, then
let it sit heavy on your chest like a vulture
let it do it’s thing to your heart
and let it go when it’s ready

quit flailing your arms
and scaring it off

you’ll tire, eventually
and it’ll be back

see it circling?

Copyright 2020. All rights reserved.

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