I am so impressed with the poetry of “Books of Hope” writer Yolandi Cruz that I decided to use yet another poem of hers. I hope you will “Linger” with this gem.

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Linger

Lover, you have always been like sunsets
I’ve loved watching from a distance.

But for how much longer will
we linger on our tippy toes?
ice cubes in a freezer,.
the green peas that fall right under them.

Our eyes are the gas to the flames
that are flickering inside of bodies.
We stand toe to toe.
Frozen: an ice rink under our feet.
We do not move.
Our fingertips are krumping.
We are nervous.
Fear has corned our courage like
3rd graders corner kindergarteners at recess.

Tonight is the night.
You said this 20 times before leaving your house.
You’ll pick the perfect spot by the Charles River.
Right on top of the bridge, the view is beautiful
She will love the sunset.
The colors in the sky will mix like a palette
right before a masterpiece is created.

Tonight is the night.
I said this to myself 30 times.
I poured my mother’s latest fragrance on my wrist
and in the back of my ear lobes.
He’ll probably do it when we wait for the bus
Or maybe he’ll catch me off guard.

Lover, you have always been like sunsets
I’ve loved watching from a distance.
But for how much longer will we linger on our tippy toes?
Frozen like glaciers.
Making up excuses of why we cannot hold hands.
Lover,
I can’t keep you at a distance any longer,
lingering on what if’s.
Keeping you away is like buying a chocolate cake
and telling a kid not to eat it.

We can hear our hearts playing the drums.
I slowly take my hand out my pocket.
It’s freezing out here,
but your hand is right next to mine.
It’s not that cold after all.
This winter has been brutal
And I can feel the summer coming.

– Yolandi Cruz

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