Take the Time
A poem by Laura Daniels


Take the Time

She was there when I arrived late
harried and out of breath, she greeted me
with a smile twinkling in her eyes
and steaming cups of coffee, dark, no sugar
just the way we liked it

We were in town for our reunion
meeting early for a catch-up conversation
career update—always the first bit shared

human resources for me, love it
I smiled and said, most of the time, sigh

mommying for me, love it
she smiled and said, most of the time, sigh

Seems we both wanted
time away from the day-to-day
time to be young and carefree
time to escape, time to just be

We made plans not to let this much time pass again

But, truth time, is it too late?
Is there enough to hold us together?

Or is this just a temporary moment in time
uncatchable, like a fluttering butterfly?


About the Author:

Laura Daniels (she/her) is a multi-genre writer and curated in New Note Poetry, Silver Birch Press, Journal of New Jersey Poets, and elsewhere. Her poetry collection Gentle Grasp (Kelsay Books) is forthcoming in 2024. She resides with her partner in Mt Arlington, NJ, where she crafts her musings. Follow her at lauradanielswriter.wordpress.com and @thefringe999.


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