For I Am

When the storms roll in

And the angels applaud my valiant efforts

I am neither here nor there

When the voices crowd around and offer their pennies and dimes the temptation becomes harder to resist

But if I am neither here nor there at times I can combat them

For when I am sailing on my boat across the sea, the wind blows

And she whispers things she wanted me to hear eons ago

And this time I write them down

But the current pushes back against the bow of my boat

And the angels applaud as the spotlight strikes my mast

But I am neither here nor there

For now I am sitting at the dining room table in Coventry

And the fire crackles as I run my fingers against the deep-seated cherry wood

But when the dogs begin to howl

And my polonaise catches fire

I am neither here nor there

For I stand routed in a field of deep lavender

And there is no one for miles

I breathe in and catch a glimmer of flaxen hair in the corner of my eye

I hear a roaring laugh that sounds like home

But as I turn in delectation

My heart sinks

Because he is neither here nor there

And the voices crowd in

And my pockets fill with pennies and dimes

And while the angels applaud, the current pushes back and the dogs howl

It all goes up in flames

For I am here

And I would give to be anywhere but