Anticipation starts with the tension
rooted in the chest, eyes widening in advance,
the slight flexion in tired muscles.
Lying in wait leaves the body coiled
in desperate want to pounce.
The eyes water in the drying stare.
Thoughts racing while the body rushes
to get to yet another sleep,
to get through one more night.
It is almost awful, that dreaded wait
as there is that lingering fear of
“What else could happen?”
and a parade of “what ifs”.
Yet I wait and practice,
remembering that I do have some self mastery
in this awful game of waiting
with deepening and slowing
breath.