Watching, Waiting, Wondering, Wishing

A Poem by SammyRose

Persona Poem: we had to write a poem from the viewpoint of someone else.

I saw you again today.

I reached my hand out to you,
but you narrowly escaped me.
Just as you did every day
I was alive.

Your soul
and the souls of others,
taunt me every day,
constantly slipping away from me.
You would never know
how many times I have almost
had you within my reach.
But fate always ruins my plans.

I watch you every day,
from the corner booth of the coffee shop,
just as I used to.
I can still smell your perfume,
the sweet notes of roses and tangerines
are just as intoxicating as they once were.
The smell of bold roast coffee
is drowned out by you.

I catch myself
holding my breath every time
you cross the street
without looking,
every time you get in your car
without your seatbelt,
thinking that maybe
today will be the day.

I am not scary, I am a friend.
People think
I do the killing. But I
help those who have been killed.
I didn’t sign up for this job,
it was given to me.
I loathe it.

When a soul comes to me,
frightened, terrified, confused,
it is my job to lead them
to their rightful path.
Whether I lead them up the stairs
or down, well that was up to them.
I can’t control that.
I always wonder where I will lead you.

Maybe next time,
I see you, I won’t let you
slip through my fingers.
Maybe I will keep you with me,
so I will never be lonely again.