Sunday Sprinkle: Somewhere Out There

Somewhere Out There

            Standing on my balcony in Kansas

and the most I hear is the hum of a generator,

a couple random birds, and an obnoxious duck.

The quietest my life has been since I don’t even know.

            It’s a Saturday night, too.

My soul doesn’t know how to stand still like the tree I’m seeing.

In this quiet concrete moment, I know there are thousands

of people in stadiums watching a game. My soul can hear the bustle of traffic

and people trying to find a parking spot in the city. She can hear

the clank of dishes and glasses being served at ritzy restaurants and busy bars.

            Ah, the mood lighting.

Someone is tasting sweet wine on their lipstick lips.

And some guy has his eye on her.

But no drop of makeup on me tonight.

Instead of a tight short skirt that’s worn by ladies across the world,

            it’s tight yoga pants for me.

I may not be participating in the world tonight, but I wonder

if I’m running through someone’s thoughts or if my name is being said

            or sitting on someone’s tongue.

Is someone thinking about sending me a text,

but deleting it before they press send? Is someone wishing

I were right there next to them laughing and carrying on? Does someone want me

to tell them a story right now?

            Does someone’s bed feel empty?

Are my pictures being looked at and are my words being read?

I might not be out there tonight, but part of my soul is somewhere out there.

She’s out there as someone is having a first kiss and others are

stumbling out of bars drunk and getting into cabs.

            She’s out there.

Floating across time zones. She left me at home. She knows I need the rest.