Want or Wanted

I want or I wanted

is now or before.

But if I say,

I wanted to ask you…

is that yesterday or today?

Yesterday if the want has ended,

but today if the listener

must not be on the spot.

Curious this sinewy

diversion from what

we were taught.

If a want can be a wanted

can a think be a thought?

First published in Armarolla October 11, 2018