Long Wait Poem by Cheryl L. DaytecYañgot

Long Wait



(for Martha)

You clasped my hand during the last call
“Wait whatever happens. We have it all.”

I will never forget that wink you gave me before
You disappeared behind the large waiting door
To ride on the wings of a World War II plane
See the world outside, then come back again
To shake off the gnawing sadness within
I waved even if you could not see me then
For the first time, your son kicked in my womb
You were gone, I realized; it hit me like a bomb
Like a busy leech, I fiercely held the ground
So you’d find me if you chose to turn around.

Our house welcomed me back with sympathy.
Nay a portent of doom, I started eagerly
To wait as I promised; I’d think of nothing else
Birds came and went, a fish became extinct
The moon altered its shape more than a thousand times
Not once did I stop singing our secret rhymes
Your son’s voice changed; he grew beyond my reach
He knew of your existence – there were the wooden crates
From across the miles- filled with everything but you
One day, he quit asking when your return was due

But I waited even when you married over there
I had to wait. “Whatever happens, ” did you not whisper?
I am bound- a promise is a promise; it is none other
Your son became a man, my head a riot of silver
The wooden crates kept coming- they kept hope alive
I waited for years; what’s twenty more or twenty-five?
For even birds that wander far across the wide oceans
May linger but always fly back to their native lands

Today, I heard of your death on the other shore
Tomorrow, your fourth wife will bury you there
Here I am- sad, grieving for all it was not worth
It just hit me- I am so old, so sapped of mirth.

You clasped my hand during the final boarding call
I waited, waited whatever happened for no one at all.

COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Priya Arora 10 October 2008

Cheryl wht to say for this painful thought that you elaborated in your poem....Wonderful...Anyone can judge out the density of ur thoughts through this 'LONG Wait'.I like it alot... Keep on writting... Bless! PRiyaa Arora

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Cheryl L. DaytecYañgot

Cheryl L. DaytecYañgot

Baguio City, Philippines
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