The Weight of Today
By Ingrid Chung
The Beginning
The beginning, tenuous.
Soft tendrils fall
where they may, whis-
pering demands,
threatening the inevitable
snip.
Definition, intangible.
Impossible.
Shafts of light peek at
shadows lurking in
corners.
If it’s possible,
today is all
I know,
this mo-
ment, this
blank
page, the curiosity of
now.
And here
you stand,
wherever
you land--
a possibility,
the unknown knowable.
It is enough.
Soft tendrils fall
where they may, whis-
pering demands,
threatening the inevitable
snip.
Definition, intangible.
Impossible.
Shafts of light peek at
shadows lurking in
corners.
If it’s possible,
today is all
I know,
this mo-
ment, this
blank
page, the curiosity of
now.
And here
you stand,
wherever
you land--
a possibility,
the unknown knowable.
It is enough.
Awaken the Dream
Tell me:
What is it like
to dream,
to live
your dream,
have your pie
and eat it too?
These cubicle walls grow
c l o s e r .
What is it like
to emerge
fish-faced,
to fill
your lungs with new air,
to step, arms open, into a world
awaiting exploring, change,
salvation.
I remember my hand felt
your touch.
The years pass and the diploma falls
from my hand.
Nine years of hand to the plow and what
have I to show?
Only
clenched fists, desperate knuckle strain, carpal tunnel necessity.
Pay the bills.
But what bills are worth paying?
What dreams are worth awakening from,
awakening to?
What is it like
to dream,
to live
your dream,
have your pie
and eat it too?
These cubicle walls grow
c l o s e r .
What is it like
to emerge
fish-faced,
to fill
your lungs with new air,
to step, arms open, into a world
awaiting exploring, change,
salvation.
I remember my hand felt
your touch.
The years pass and the diploma falls
from my hand.
Nine years of hand to the plow and what
have I to show?
Only
clenched fists, desperate knuckle strain, carpal tunnel necessity.
Pay the bills.
But what bills are worth paying?
What dreams are worth awakening from,
awakening to?
The Weight of Today
It is the possibility that this day is worth
something more than
clock in-clock out-clock in-clock out
break time-work time-break time-work time
flickering fluorescent filament
shifting stacks of slender sheets of paper
from inbox to outbox to inbox
and back again,
the possibility that
matter matters,
gravity weighs,
what I do echoes somewhere--
if not here--
every day matters.
This day is worth the wait.
something more than
clock in-clock out-clock in-clock out
break time-work time-break time-work time
flickering fluorescent filament
shifting stacks of slender sheets of paper
from inbox to outbox to inbox
and back again,
the possibility that
matter matters,
gravity weighs,
what I do echoes somewhere--
if not here--
every day matters.
This day is worth the wait.
Passing Presence
I am found
in your presence
you
whatever you are
48 years in the making
hungering eyes
thirsty skin
and now in the doorway you stand
eyes lit with fire
smile tinged with nerves
lilies in hand
and the possibility
that this crossing could become
an interweaving, a tapestry
freeing to walk
fingers interwoven
however long we walk
if we walk and not trespass
I will love you in strength
and frailty however long
I am called.
The dust from your steps
catch the rays of dusky light.
in your presence
you
whatever you are
48 years in the making
hungering eyes
thirsty skin
and now in the doorway you stand
eyes lit with fire
smile tinged with nerves
lilies in hand
and the possibility
that this crossing could become
an interweaving, a tapestry
freeing to walk
fingers interwoven
however long we walk
if we walk and not trespass
I will love you in strength
and frailty however long
I am called.
The dust from your steps
catch the rays of dusky light.
Terminal B
Supposedly
the plane stops here
if only
your car could too
run around
forever loops
caught in the maybe of
she’s here she isn’t
you search each blurry face
disappointment
when will she alight
turn her face
brimming with hope
glimmering with maybe.
the plane stops here
if only
your car could too
run around
forever loops
caught in the maybe of
she’s here she isn’t
you search each blurry face
disappointment
when will she alight
turn her face
brimming with hope
glimmering with maybe.
Wake of a Break
In the wake of a break
in the ashes of an almost
evermore is what
nevermore will be
We ache in the break
the unsoothable ache
simmering in the
what will not be
this did not take.
Was this to be?
Sundered
we wonder
we wander
We awake
and we wait.
in the ashes of an almost
evermore is what
nevermore will be
We ache in the break
the unsoothable ache
simmering in the
what will not be
this did not take.
Was this to be?
Sundered
we wonder
we wander
We awake
and we wait.
Economy of Grace
As setting sun streamed
on glinting leaves and bladed green,
roses formed beds.
She conceived two children
the first, perfect
the second, less.
When the Lord God breathed into their nostrils
they were.
Her husband stopped breathing.
She
smelled a rose
took a breath,
held out her hand
and walked with God
toward the City.
on glinting leaves and bladed green,
roses formed beds.
She conceived two children
the first, perfect
the second, less.
When the Lord God breathed into their nostrils
they were.
Her husband stopped breathing.
She
smelled a rose
took a breath,
held out her hand
and walked with God
toward the City.