Grateful for this poem by Tanner Olson of Written to Speak. This poem, along with others, is featured in his newest book Walk a Little Slower: A Collection of Poems and Other Words.
I’ve Never Seen a Moose in the Wild
There are days when the thought of leaving slips into my mind.
It’s a thought that is dark and far from kind.
And most of the time I wonder how it worked its way to a place that leaves
me feeling burdened, blind, and behind.
But I’m fine.
At least that’s what I tell myself from time to time.
But I can’t leave.
I can’t leave because I have yet to see the sun set over and through the
redwood trees.
And I can’t leave because I have yet to find rest in the mess and I still have
a little something more to give than my best.
And I can’t leave because next Saturday I made plans and I don’t want to
be late.
And I can’t leave because I love the way she cooks and part of me
wonders at age 74 how I will look.
And as silly as it sounds, I’ve never seen a moose in the wild.
And I want to see a moose in the wild.
And I can’t leave because for as hard as living can be I can’t help but
believe there is beauty beginning to bloom out of the brokenness.
I believe there is.
And I am going to see it.
—
To find more poetry and spoken word by Tanner, follow Written to Speak on both Instagram and Twitter. His new book is available here.
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