Notice of absence from Tristan Robert Lange
Friends, I’m doing my best to keep up with comments. 😅 I’m still current on my own poems and first replies on others’ work, but this season has been a bit of a twister. Figured I’d drop a quick note so you don’t think I’ve vanished or gone flaky.
Read. Write. Rise. Realize. 🤘💀🖤
Friends, I’m doing my best to keep up with comments. 😅 I’m still current on my own poems and first replies on others’ work, but this season has been a bit of a twister. Figured I’d drop a quick note so you don’t think I’ve vanished or gone flaky.
Read. Write. Rise. Realize. 🤘💀🖤
not yesterday—
not even a
moment ago—
now.
not tomorrow—
not even
seconds ahead—
right now.
all that is—
not what wasn’t
nor what won’t be—
all that appears is
now
a scrolling marquee—
in place—
appearing in motion.
illusion—
not delusion—
drapes over
the picture window
like gentle fleece,
lulling us to forget
now
and wish away
a today
for tomorrow.
such sorrow
to lose what one has
for that which one cannot
borrow.
POET’S NOTE:
Part of The Thinking Dark collection.
© 2026 Tristan Robert Lange. All rights reserved.
First published on tristanrobertlange.com, March 10, 2026.
Tittu
-
Author:
Tristan Robert Lange (
Offline) - Published: March 10th, 2026 09:03
- Comment from author about the poem: I’m now published in an anthology featuring authors from across the Poconos, PA. All proceeds benefit the Pocono Liars Club — a collective of authors and editors dedicated to supporting and mentoring local writers. Available in paperback and Kindle, please consider purchasing one and supporting a great cause. https://a.co/d/58uxM69
- Category: Reflection
- Views: 14
- Users favorite of this poem: sorenbarrett, Friendship, Mutley Ravishes, cellinic
- In collections: The Thinking Dark.
Offline)
Comments8
This is simply beautiful Tristan a flash in time by the time it is recognized already gone. It is so fleeting yet always present, an enigma an illusion yet all that is real what ever real is. Nicely worded and constructed it speaks to me. A definite fave
Soren, thank you, my friend…your words get right to the heart of it. That fleeting “flash in time” is exactly what I was trying to explore. The present is the only thing we truly have, yet it slips away the moment we notice it. A strange and beautiful paradox. I’m grateful it spoke to you. ⏳🪟🌅🙏
You are most welcome Tristan
There’s a raw clarity here—each line makes you pause and reckon with presence.
You’ve captured the tension between time we have and time we chase beautifully.
Thomas, thank you for this, my friend…“the tension between time we have and time we chase” really gets to the heart of the poem. That pull between presence and anticipation is something I’ve been thinking about a lot lately. I’m grateful the lines made you pause and sit with it. Much appreciated, my friend.⏳🪟🌅🙏
Well written. My friend. Your poem revolves around the concept of the present moment—emphasizing the significance of living in the "now" rather than being preoccupied with the past or the future. The poet delves into the human tendency to forget the present in favor of nostalgia for what has passed or longing for what is yet to come. It highlights the sorrow that arises from neglecting the present moment, advocating for an appreciation of what one currently has rather than yearning for what cannot be possessed. A powerful poem, Tristan🌹
Friendship, thank you for such a thoughtful reading, my friend. You described the tension perfectly…how easy it is to lose the present while chasing yesterday or tomorrow. That quiet sorrow of missing what we already hold (which is gone the moment we acknowledge it) was exactly the feeling behind the poem. I’m grateful it resonated with you. ⏳🪟🌅🙏
I dunno about tomorrow, but there's enough cost for today, cos with Popeye & Co the shops have run out of brollies! lol. Why have they run out? Don't answer that! lol.
orchidee, haha…I love this response. You’re right, some days the cost of today alone feels like more than enough to carry. As for the brollies 😱🤣🤐 ⏳🪟🌅🙏
Those haberdasherers - or whatever they call brolly-makers, can't keep up with the demand. Why can't they? Don't answer that! lol
LOL! They sure can't! Oh we knows who knows why, don't we?!?! Yes we do, methinks! 🤣
Did you intend to write a second comment, but your mind went blank cos of the glugs?! (an empty comments box posted by you. lol).
Exactly! It was gluignesia!
I’m here. Now. No, I’m now in a same similar moment. Tomorrow another moment ….no different.. But in the end those moments do change; though I don’t notice, reality impinges.
‘Sorry Tristan - doesn’t come near to directly meeting your write halfway, but this it evoked, provoked or something...
Dave, no apology needed, my friend… that’s exactly what poetry threads are for. Seriously, the way you describe the shifting moments is very close to the tension the poem is wrestling with. We live inside these passing instants without noticing how they quietly reshape everything. I appreciate you sharing where the poem took you. ⏳🪟🌅🙏
Have you ever tried to pin a moment down, Tristan? It`s impossible isn`t it?! It`s like a moment is always here and never here at the same time.
Mutley, that’s beautifully put, my friend… exactly the paradox the poem is circling. The moment feels solid while we’re in it, yet the second we try to hold it still it slips away. That strange “here and not here” quality is what makes time feel so slippery. I appreciate that reflection. ⏳🪟🌅🙏
In a nutshell!
Bravo! Loved the way this flowed. The ending was just brilliant.
Tom, thank you my friend… I’m really glad the flow carried you through and that the ending landed. The poem was written to flow deliberately before arriving at that final realization. I’m grateful it connected with you. ⏳🪟🌅🙏
Actually, this is one of the deepest writes I've read over recent time... Well-done, my friend!
cellinic, thank you my friend… that means a great deal to hear. This poem grew out of reflection, for sure. I’m grateful you saw the depth and that it resonated with you. ⏳🪟🌅🙏
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