Today I sat and looked at her
And wondered what could have been
If I had been given some courage
Or enough stupidity to talk
To random people in unfriendly cities.

But I have neither quality,
So I am left to simply look
And be thankful for the brief glimpses
Of beauty to which I am so often treated.

Perhaps I would appreciate them less
From a position of closer contact.
After all, I seem to be proficient at
Only wanting to be with
What is not here, and not seeing
Beauty in people and places
I know best of all.

So, when I go home, I might try
To appreciate being back
A lot more and longer than usual.

Sometimes a bit of distance
Can be a good thing, since
It helps you to see the bigger picture,
But whether I will trade
Closeness for it is a difficult decision.

It has been said that clichés
Are clichés because they are true;
If it is so, and the grass really is
Always greener on the other side,
Whichever decision I make
Will be the wrong one.

However, I think I will
Ignore that theory, and stick to
Making the best of where I am.

03/25/2002

Posted on 03/26/2002
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