Sheldon Square Statues - A poem about distance

My friend,

always standing there
in front of me
looking
no- staring
or maybe begging.

The little path
unites us
unites us?
divides us?
measures how far we are
from each other.
I will come to you.

......

My friend,
you are coming to me
always coming
never moving
always trying.
Why?

I see the path
in front of you
your path
your goal.
I wish I could move too.
I wish
we could
finally
meet in the middle.

But I am born to wait.
Born?
Wait!
I was never born.
Neither were you.
We were made
you to move and me to wait.

So we do this
and nothing but this
forever
and ever
ever
never
to meet
never
to speak
never
to touch.

If only you could move
My waiting would have meaning.


..........................

This poem was inspired by the two statues facing each other next to Sheldon Square in Paddington, London. A tiny plaque next to one of them reads 'Standing Man', Sean Henry, 2003.