Waiting

I waited

Waited until the seconds became minutes

Minutes became hours

Hours became days

I waited

Waited until the days became weeks

Weeks became months

Months became years

I waited

Waited until my hair grew passed my shoulders

Until it turned from brown to gray

and watched it fall like a light rain

I waited

Waited until my hunger turned to pain

and that pain turned to anguish

Until the food became a memory

I waited

Waited as my body became emaciated

brown skin clinging to white bone

veins protruding

I waited

Waited until the youthful beat of my heart

slowed to the pace of a snail in a race

until the blood in my veins thickened

I waited

Waited until my throat dried

and became a desert from which my songs

would no longer sing

I waited

Waited to hear your voice again

Waited for those loving words

To make love of my soul again