KATHRYN SHEA DUNCAN

This poem mourns how a love built from small shared moments and joyful reunions has turned into absence. It ends with accepting the quiet and moving forward without waiting.

Without Waiting

Can you believe?

After all of the whistles of leaves,
evenings under the sunlight in the park,
counting down the days
until the distance quit pretending it owned us.
Your embrace, always right on time.

Now I can’t seem to find you anymore.

Just a moment ago
your voice was just there,
close enough to steady me,
a helpful hand
before I knew what I needed,
always ready to listen,
really listen—
like every small thing I carried
was safe with you.

Now I can’t seem to shout loud enough.

I let the quiet tell the truth.
I let the days be days again.
And I learn what my life sounds like
without waiting.