Portrait of the poet, acrylic and watercolour on canvas. Judi Power Thomson (2014)

was

Misused, abused and made to look foolish,
“was”, as indicative past, first and third singular,
has never relished its irregular role
as a verb describing existence:
if “is” was to be, “was” had to have been,
and so it was, excepting subjunctive.
It’s: “if she were in love,
her eyes would shine love-light on all.”
Not “was”,
since she is, and will still be.
It’s: “If I weren’t in love,
I wouldn’t be writing this.”
Not “wasn’t”,
since I am, and can’t help it.

***

were

More past existence,
and subjunctive singular and plural:
our verb to “be” maintains linguistic life,
holds friends and families in fruitfulness
and, when time and interest differentiate,
discretely divorces incompatibles.
“Her second husband and she were never friends,
so she moved to Melbourne with her only son.”
Our most urbane and love-smart city,
you move there if lorn-born elsewhere.
I have to add “were”
to things I remember of her;
but I use the present tense
for everything I feel.