ENVY
how the stars each
day become again invisible, while going nowhere.
— Carl Philips
I wanted a line like that, just one.
A jaw-dropper.
An outward gasp.
I tried to imitate, but faux poems
never work. I stared up at the stars,
watched them blink, waited
for morning, the moment of departure.
My pen had no ink.
The muse was asleep
in her hungover chair. I reread
your line, became again invisible.
My eyes, mouth, my fingers.
Author’s Bio
Jim Nason is the author of six volumes of poetry, a short story collection, and three novels. He has been a finalist for the CBC Literary Award in both the fiction and poetry categories. His poetry book Rooster, Dog, Crow was Shortlisted for the 2019 Raymond Souster Award, and his poems have been included in anthologies across Canada, including The Best Canadian Poetry in English 2008, 2010 and 2014.