Need a boost to get moving forward? This villanelle from Jeff Oaks might give you some perspective.
—
Advice
There is nothing saying you have to wait.
Waiting is for coins in a pocket. It’s for
things like irons and teaspoons. A gate
waits to be pushed or opened, a crate
to be filled with objects to save. However,
there is nothing saying you have to wait.
You could begin right now. It’s always too late
or too early. You don’t have to be able to drive a car.
Things like The Silver, those photos you love to hate,
you can leave them. You can leave the state
if you want. You don’t even need a literal door.
There is nothing saying you have to wait.
Leave the dust alone. You don’t even need light.
You’ve been all coiled up, unpredictable as the weather.
The thing about time is it never feels right.
You have to begin somewhere. Forget the date
and the cost of everything but your hunger.
There is nothing saying you have to wait
if things are wrong. Nor is moving always flight.
***
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