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Working: Vol. 5, No. 1 - Issue 17 Spring 2026

 What Sits in Front

2nd Place in the Poetry Writing Contest
Issue 17
what sits in front of me
is not the future that lies ahead.
its sleepiness, its restless shape
conceal a fullness, albeit dormant
at these moments.
why make a fuss about its stingy
tendrils, when a short puff of air
will suffice to keep its urgency
away from my cat-gut hands?
why move over, when that seat
has been taken by an old woman
whose days of preening are long over?

Wayne Bornholdt is a retired bookseller who lives in West Michigan. Besides taking care of three Golden Retrievers, he plays tennis. He holds degrees in philosophy and religious studies. His poetry has been published in numerous reviews and journals.

READ THE FULL PIECE IN ISSUE 17
Copyright © 2025 Empyrean Literary Magazine, L.L.C.
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