[ PINING, A Definition ]

Look like last night

the light hardly wanted

to leave—it hung

round in the pines

for what seemed hours

after the sun said

its goodbyes. Sometimes

can get hard

to just go, you know—

we stand around talking

not noticing the dark

rising up around

our feet.

Stand up & maybe

stretch & see

ourselves home. We

be a gas station dog

waiting for something

to fall, so we

can eat awhile

& sleep. When morning

decides to wake

maybe just this once

it’ll be late

& we can join the table

already set, like fate—

welcomed by the knives—

& just from the scent

of something someone we love

cooked for us

feel fed.