You Know When... Poem by Patrick Tolan

You know when you say the wrong thing
At the wrong time, in front of the wrong people
You couldn’t have said anything worse
But you said it? Everyone is looking at you
You just want to be invisible and melt into the floor
Or stand up and leave, storm out the door
Don’t you just hate that?

You know when you are in the middle of something
On the computer, your fingers worked you to the bone
Then something happens and you lose it all?
The blood, sweat and tears that went into it are washed, lost
And you suddenly feel drained, upset
Like you’re back at square one
Don’t you just detest that?

You know when you’re doing something menial outside in summer
And you glance up and notice before you a great sunset
The laborious task is immediately forgotten
And all the colours of the sky well up in your eyes
Not a single cloud screens the beauty of the fiery ball
As it changes from daffodil, to orange, to salamander, good night
Don’t you just love that?

You know when you wake up in the morning, rollover
And lying beside you is the one you love, the most beautiful
Of all the creatures in the world, breathing softly
Their face not carrying a care, far away dreaming yet next to you; here
You kiss them on the cheek because you can’t help yourself
One last look, lean back and dwell on how you are the luckiest person alive
Don’t you just live for that?