the waiting room

Photo by Elia Pellegrini on Unsplash

how do you leave
the essence of your life behind?

what leads people to
give up their art?

how does someone say,
“i have had enough.
you sustained me for years,
but now, i am moving on.”

how do they eschew something
that is all around?
waiting to be explored
in different mediums.

perhaps life sends chokeholds,
increasing weights of
responsibility and priorities
pressing art under,
until it becomes an indulgence.

something for another time.
another day.
another era.

do they only look back
when it is too late?
is it ever too late?

i believe art is patient.
waiting for them to return.

welcoming with a small smile
and a soft embrace.

old friend, i missed you.

look, nothing has changed here.

come, let us begin again.