! ! Just There Poem by Michael Shepherd

Between two who are talking;
above two who are silent;

in the listening
after wisdom spoken;

the moment as the pen’s put down;
the moment after the book is lowered;

between two thoughts;
just before speech;

as cup’s put back on saucer;
knife and fork sing plate;

just before the inward breath,
and just after the outward breath,

between the warm memory
and the fond association;

just before the smile is smiled;
when the last tear has dropped;

just as silence forgets sound;
just as stillness forgets movement;

as all thought surpasses thought
as if no thought had ever been;

the moment before music starts;
the moment after music ceases;

the moment before words come;
just before the poem speaks;

between the listening
and the hearing;

all these gathered in your heart
just before you give it name.