Waiting for It – Reviewed

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I overheard a gentle comment
while I waited for the next part
of my life to begin:

“Sometimes it is in the waiting.”

My expectation increased as I hoped
for an explanation of “it.” There was none.

…

You may find the rest of the poem here.

Waiting for It

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Analysis

This poem is about waiting, but not just the act of waiting—the uncertainty that comes with it. The speaker is in between moments, expecting the next part of life to begin, but they do not know what that means. They hear someone say, “Sometimes it is in the waiting,” a comment that suggests there is meaning in this in-between space. But the statement does not explain what “it” is, and that lack of clarity creates tension. The speaker wants to know what they are waiting for. They start guessing—maybe it is a better life, love, or some kind of deeper happiness. But instead of feeling reassured, they begin to worry. If they do not know what “it” is, how will they know if they have found it? And what if they are waiting for it the wrong way?

The poem does not try to answer these questions. It does not define “it” or say whether the speaker’s concerns are valid. That is what makes the poem unsettling. The speaker is left to decide for themselves, and that is the real challenge. The poem highlights a common experience—people wait for change, assume that something new is coming, but rarely know what to expect. They look for meaning outside themselves, hoping for direction, but often have to define it on their own. The poem captures the weight of that responsibility. It starts with quiet observation, shifts into hopeful anticipation, then moves into fear. The longer the speaker sits with their uncertainty, the more anxious they become. If they cannot name what they are waiting for, how can they be sure they are waiting correctly?

The structure of the poem follows the speaker’s thoughts. It begins with an overheard comment, something passive, then shifts into an active search for meaning. The speaker moves through possibilities, listing ideas, trying to pin down what they are waiting for. But instead of landing on an answer, the thinking spirals. The final question changes the focus from the unknown future to the speaker’s own actions—what if they are not waiting the right way? The poem does not offer reassurance. It just stops, leaving the speaker in doubt.

The tone follows this same shift. It starts out neutral, almost reflective, but as the poem progresses, the uncertainty builds. The phrase “My expectation increased” suggests excitement, as if something is about to be revealed. But that feeling is quickly replaced by doubt. The lack of explanation changes the mood. The more the speaker thinks about “it,” the less certain they feel. The final shift to fear happens quickly, but it is not dramatic. The poem does not use emotional language or exaggerated imagery. The simplicity makes the shift feel natural, like someone realizing mid-thought that they might have made a mistake. The waiting is no longer just a pause before something new. It becomes stressful.

The simplicity of the poem makes it feel personal. There are no complicated metaphors or decorative language. The thoughts unfold naturally, as if the speaker is thinking through them in real time. This makes the transition from hope to fear feel more immediate. The poem does not try to resolve the speaker’s doubt, and that lack of resolution is what makes it effective. It leaves the speaker, and the reader, stuck in that same uncertainty. It suggests that the act of waiting is not just about patience but about defining what is worth waiting for in the first place.

Photo by Meritt Thomas on Unsplash