Only Then
Received honorable mention in the 2021 Redwood Writers poetry contest, but never published here.
Only Then
Late-night quiet
a few prized moments
then a talk-talk-more-talk morning
rush to the station
shoo house guests onto the bus
The doors swing closed
a heartening, pneumatic whoooosh—
engine roars and pulls away
I smile, wave goodbye
slow inhale
Turn toward home
release the talking air
gradually find my way
back to myself
and stillness
Then
maybe then
only then
will words rise again
Congrats on the honorable mention, and yes, I feel that, the moment I arrive home from any interaction and I can finally "find my way / back to myself"
You have captured so well that need to 'release the talking air' and find the stillness within after too much time talking with others - I so relate to this experience :)