Waiting

I wait in the corner

for you to

enter the room

A shrinking violet

in a sea of roses

Restless fingers

comb absent tangles
from unruly hair

brush my dress

for any unseen crumbs

still clinging

like a jealous lover

My eyes dart 

like a hovering

Hummingbird

flitting here and there

But there’s no sign of you

A waiter passes by

stops to see 

if I need a drink

I take a glass from

his laden tray

then another

I gulp it down

in one breath

not like the other women

who sip and nod

delicate as the

pearls around my neck

choking what little pleasure

there was in the evening
because you’re not here

My watch ticks on

I’m surprised to see

only an hour has gone by

It seems as though

I’ve been waiting for an eternity

The corner’s tired of me

Wanting some variety

I get to my feet to find

another quiet spot

One step then I freeze

my heart thumps louder

in tune to the music

rising to a crescendo

I sense you in the room

your fragrance fills the air

Time stops as I wait 

for you to come to me

I murmur the words

I will say to you

Drawing curious glances

But you’re drawn away

from me by the roses

blooming as you cast

your precious gaze on them

You stop, you laugh

you share a word and a smile

you nod and touch

Them with a gentle hand

Another lifetime passes by

before you look my way

I still stand in the corner

unmoving, unblinking

A smile grazes my face

and fades when I notice

you’re not looking at me at all

For all you see

is a shrinking violet 

wilted into nothingness

© 2013 Uma Venkatraman ~ All Rights Reserved