How Soon is Soon

A couple of days?
Two you said
How soon is soon?
You never said

You’d wait, you said
How long I asked?
How long before?
Not long, turns out
One, two months
A couple then? Funny

When is a couple two
And two a couple
Soon?
Hesitation
Grudging acceptance
Now isn’t soon then
How soon is soon?

A couple? Funny
Funny how quickly forgotten
Plans shoved aside
Apologies, then
No, I guess not
What to do
Now isn’t soon enough
How soon is soon?

A break you said
Doubts you said
Ages, acres of difference you say
Still small silence
How soon will I know
How soon is soon?

A day is soon enough
A chasm it seems
Impassable, unworkable
Not a break then?
No, not really
But in time, soon…
Who knows?
How soon is soon?

You keep telling me
Soon you’ll let me know
Soon you’ll call
Soon you’ll visit
Soon soon soon
I keep telling me
Soon you’ll see
Soon I’ll be perfect
Soon you’ll love me
Soon soon soon
How soon is soon?

Soon never comes soon enough
Two a couple
A couple two
Fading, slowly
Obscured by others
But I’m clinging, drowning
Pleading, persevering, pretending
That it doesn’t matter
How soon is soon

How soon is soon?
Soon is when
Only ‘maybes’ linger
Presence and voice become distant
And though memories burn bright
Truth forces its way to the fore
Unpleasant and demanding
And a heart that never healed decides
Now is soon enough
And hesitant feet
Walk away