Later

Let’s grasp the essence of now

Photo by Caro Henry

Later, the sun will dip below the horizon,  
its fiery tendrils stretching across the sky,  
a watercolor of oranges and purples,  
drawing the curtain on this day,  
casting shadows that linger,  
like whispers of yesterday.

But for now, the world is wrapped in warmth,  
a golden embrace,  
and children’s laughter flutters through the air,  
each sound a spark of joy,  
reminding us of the innocence  
that dances just beyond the reach of time.

Cradling a cup of steaming tea,  
I sit on my porch,  
the gentle steam curling upward,  
as if carrying my dreams to the heavens.  
I watch clouds,  
soft and billowing,  
shifting into forms that tease the imagination—  
dragons, castles, a thousand untold stories.

Later, I will gather with friends,  
a circle of hearts and laughter,  
sharing tales woven from the threads of their lives,  
each story a stitch in the fabric of their connection.  
But now, in this sacred stillness,  
I feel the weight of possibilities,  
each one a seed planted in the soil of my mind,  
waiting for the right moment to bloom.

What will later hold for me?  
A book written, words flowing like a river,  
or a journey to distant lands,  
where the air is thick with the scent of spices  
and laughter echoes in foreign tongues?  
Time swirls around me,  
a delicate dance of moments,  
both promise and reminder,  
like the clouds above that drift,  
never quite within reach.

As the sun edges closer to twilight,  
a gentle urgency rises within me,  
a call to savor the fleeting seconds,  
to grasp the essence of now,  
before it fades into the embrace of later.  
I take a sip,  
the warmth seeping into my bones,  
a resolve blossoming alongside my hopes,  
to make later not just a word,  
but a vibrant tapestry woven with intention.

With the horizon glowing,  
I rise, brushing away the quiet thoughts,  
ready to step into the embrace of companionship,  
to transform later into laughter,  
into shared moments,  
into memories that will linger,  
like the last rays of sunlight,  
filling my heart with the promise  
that later is not a distant land,  
but a journey,  
a celebration,  
a life fully lived.

Author’s Note

• My new book of poetry and prose, The Edges, is now available in digital and paperback formats at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple Books, Google Play, and Kobo.

Upcoming…

• November’s writing prompt:

  One Hundred-Word Wonders, 20 November 2024

  For those who want a head start, the theme and prompt word is FLIGHT. Write in exactly 100 words, a story, poem, or creative non-fiction in any genre, using the theme, prompt word, or both. Pieces should be exactly 100 words, no more or less. The 100-word count does not include the title. Hold your piece until the 20th!

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