Kirby Wright

Published: November 1st, 2014

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Kirby Wright is the 2014 Artist in Residence at the Earthskin Creative Retreat in Auckland, New Zealand. His new book of poetry is NOTES ABOVE WATER.

Under the Ficus

We sat under the ficus
Ten feet apart
 
In my backyard
Which was a field
 
On our high school campus.
I couldn’t speak the words
 
To ask you out
Because I was certain
 
You’d say ‘no.’
So we just sat there
 
Ten feet apart
For an hour not speaking
 
But glancing often
Until another boy came
 
And you left me alone
Under the ficus.
 
I watched your shadow
Join with his
 
On yellow grass
The day before graduation.

*Kirby Wright lives and writes in Honolulu, Hawaii.