Waiting, always waiting
working patience like a muscle
it’s a virtue, my dad used to say
he was patient
me, not so much
Anticipation fuels
my overthinking
this can’t be good.

Anticipation
waiting, always waiting
allowing the future to steal
my present
as I dwell not in this moment
but in the after
but joy is found in the moment
in the now
joy is not a future feeling.
like anticipation.

Waiting, always waiting
even though my better angels
sit on my shoulder
whispering
Now
Now
Now
Be here now
and let tomorrow
next week
next month
take their own care.

(I’ll do that, later
I whisper back.)