He writes about the dark
Because he remembers
What it was like to be there,
Staggering around without direction,
Lost in recognizable surroundings,
Unable to reach out to ask
Someone to help alleviate his pain,
Not realizing solace exists,
A disoriented creature walking aimlessly
Down an unfamiliar street,
Looking for something, anything,
A long, convoluted journey toward
Some other, lighter place.
I’m sorry for
What I did,
I didn’t know
What else to do.
If I had a chance
To relive the moment,
I would behave
Differently.
I wish time
Would allow me to
Go back and
Change things.
If only you
Could see me now,
On my
New path.
Most would rather
Do anything other than
Look inside,
Guaranteeing stasis,
Choosing being stuck,
Unaware,
Hopeless,
Over reliving the pain
In order to heal it,
Joining the herd
That never experiences
Greener pastures.
Apprehensive life spent
Looking over shoulder,
One hair away from infringing
On someone else at all times,
A moment from crossing the
Line into transgression,
Running from capture,
Contempt for everyone,
Everything, every time,
Clashing sounds and
Images clouding mind.
Start.
Stop.
Second-guess.
Fret.
Start again.
Stop again.
Think about it some more.
Worry some.
Start.
Falter.
Fade.
In the garden,
A small bird
Stops by to say hello.
Breathing more peacefully,
I realize everything
Will be okay.
Trying to occupy my
Day with constant
Activity to provide
Respite from the
Incessant onslaught
Of memories unwelcome,
Reminders of occurrences
I don’t want to relive
But that won’t
Leave me alone.
I pretend they’re not
There but that only
Lasts until the next
Moment I’m not doing
Something and the
Silence is supplanted
Yet again by
Undesirable
Recollections.
Can’t do anything about him,
He marches to the beat of
His own something or other,
Doesn’t listen much to what
Anyone is saying at any time,
Prefers instead to just launch
Into whatever he wants to do
At that particular moment,
Regardless of the outcome and
In spite of what it might do
To the real people around him.
She’s made her choice:
Careening through
Life spewing hate
And divisiveness.
Sure, she makes a lot
Of money, and is often
Recognized in restaurants,
But that’s where it ends.
When she gets home and
Takes off the persona,
She has to live with
What she’s become.
