It try the same
Thing one more time,
As if it’s going to
Make a difference,
It never seems to but
There is always hope.
Dreams unrealized
Yet still
Vibrant.
Experiences anticipated,
Moments of elation,
Excitement.
Respite from the
Monotony,
Welcome movement.
Talking about
All the things
That will be.
Future triumphs
Engendered deliberately,
Hopefully.
Keep trying,
There’s no way
This will work.
Keep going,
No tangible
Progress.
You’ll make it,
Failure a familiar
Constant.
Stick with it,
It may never come
To fruition.
Don’t give up,
You’re
Worth it.
Every one of them
Huddling inside bland houses,
Emerging occasionally
To throw some meat
On the fire,
Or let the dog out,
Or start the car.
They’ll experience occasional,
Outsized moments of joy
When offspring arrive
With their offspring
To interrupt the
Stifling tedium.
Nothing to talk about
With the spouse.
Lurk in the garage
Drinking beer,
Working on the latest
Time-killing project
The neighbors will
Endure listening to.
Encompassing mediocrity,
Enforced sameness.
On the second floor of
A beige house,
A young woman writes
A poem.
We talk with each other,
Interested in what’s going on,
Sharing stories about everything,
Our deepest hopes and worries,
A natural ebb and flow,
Unedited, uninterrupted, easy.
Exciting ideas appear,
Old ones modified or left behind,
New branches, leaves, flowers emerge,
Our dreams taking hold,
Continuing the conversation.
A cluster of cubicles girdling
Many dreams. Methodical, mechanical,
Ordered, contained, managed
Minds focused on the completion of
Dire duties, sublimated creativity.
A voyage, perhaps to some beautiful
Destination unblemished by rules or rigidity.
Potential unfettered, possibilities
Countless. Roam wherever, whenever,
Destination unconsidered, inconsequential.
Dreams eclipsed,
Traditional currents
Scrubbing everything a
Pale shade of average.
Arms resting on the
Windowsill, she sees
Far-away places where
Birds fly freely.
