Not Measured in Miles

Intro

This spoken word poem was inspired by two writing prompts:

• #vss365: “distant”

• #AmpersandAfterDark challenge:
  “Certainty must weaken as the piece progresses.”

This piece began with the idea of distance as something obvious and measurable, but became more interested in the quieter spaces between people, and how difficult those spaces can be to define clearly once emotion, memory, and time begin interfering with the signal.

The audio version below is the intended experience, though the full text is included underneath for anyone unable to listen.

Full text of Not Measured in Miles

Doors slamming.
Tires spinning.
Some sad song
on the radio at night.

Everyone thinks leaving
has to be loud.

But sometimes it’s smaller.

One less story at dinner.

One less touch
passing in the hallway.

I used to think
distance meant miles.

Roads.
Airports.
Rain on the windshield.

Now? I’m not so sure.

Because I’ve missed people
sitting right beside me.

Some people fade slowly.

So slow, you keep rubbing your eyes

Maybe distant
doesn’t mean gone.

Maybe it means
something still there,
just harder to hold.