Poetry | Journal

They will ask why, and slowly your explanation 
for leaving will grow shorter, fatigued
from feigning remorse, the word sorry 
starts to sound foreign. 
You’ll tell someone you want
to spend a year in Canada, 
someone else, that you’re just broke. 
It doesn’t matter anymore why but when
how long is left to take in everything
you’ll dream of on the other side
of the miles. Returning is inevitable 
so regret for going now is not there. 
They will ask how soon 
and say we should even though 
we never did all those times before 
you don’t have to worry. 
The delicious unknown of next 
has always been your favorite. 
When they ask why and when and how long
tell them you’d rather be present 
for however long, right now, because.