Yesterday I caught a glimpse

Of my fate, momentarily in the 

Embers of a dying flame that

Burned out and left - the wait

 

Hawk-heavy and hungry-eyed, it

Hovers; too close for comfort,

Ready to swoop, but not caring to,

Merely preferring to - wait

 

The devil is not knowing. An 

Obsessive companion, it stalks

One pace away, lurking in shadows.

Nuisance caller - the wait

 

Who? What? Why? When? How?

These are the big questions, star

Turns in an unsolved mystery that

I am forced to watch - and wait

 

All poker-faced control, it

Holds the ace cards. The hand

Of fate holding the answers

To questions about - the wait

 

So it goes on, dragging time,

Repeating itself, adding layers,

Building up, controlling; trapped

And slowly tortured by - the wait

 

In time, the cruel hostage taker

And I converse, on first name

Terms; closer yet still distant,

...But always there - the wait

 

There is no rest. Night never

Comes; the all day vigil leaves

The same questions, plus fresh

Doubts introduced by - the wait

 

As such, I am forced to endure

The painful spectacle of my own

Demise; it is out of my hands; I

Eat, drink and think - the wait

 

There is no release. The wait

Will not surrender what it

Knows. The price of peace is

A bargain made with patience