from my life, relying on someone else
to figure out what I need.
I’d be willing to wait a while longer – if I have to –
for the right kind of person
but he or she had better be
quicker than the last fifteen years.
I’ve also been thinking about staying put
so someone can find me,
like the survival books recommend,
not wandering in circles
only to find myself back where I started.
I’d build a fire
if I had some matches,
maybe do some light reading
until the night made it too hard to see.
By the time the stars made an appearance
I’d hope the one I’ve been counting on
will have noticed the smoke,
wrapped me in a blanket
and helped me to a clearing
where my future will be anchored
like a cruise ship
with a buffet that’s always open
and a horizon full of ocean
to suggest a backdrop of adversity.