The Choice

A fork in the road

_____________________

One beaten by low blows to myself

That showed me second choices

Aren’t that bad

When you can teach

The future

Even if you end up

Used, not working,

And without experience

Except pleasing your audience of one.

_____________________

The other path has sunlight streaming

Through forested windows

In trees as tall as my hopes-

The future

I always dreamed I’d have

Of big cities

And even bigger success

Lies at the end of the path

A prize to be taken

For taking myself seriously.

_____________________

And yet,

I’d still rather take the path

Filled with second chances.

A Glance at the Stars

A glance at the stars in the

Middle of the city,

And the sky is shining brighter

Than I remember-

I suddenly feel so small.

________________________

A glance at the stars while we

Play outside at night;

Nothing to guide us home

Except their light,

Feeling protected in their presence.

________________________

A glance at the stars on the

Night we met

Their grace instilling hope.

I smile up at the sky,

Knowing they’re smiling back.

________________________

A glance at the stars with a

Heavy heart and the ghosts of tears

On my face. I can’t see you

But I feel you, wherever you are,

Comforting me like you always have.

The World We Live In

Straight past the busy street

With cars as fast as a shooting star

Blurring past you in the night

To the quiet neighborhood

With houses lined up side by side

Sleeping next to one another

For warmth, comfort, strength in numbers.

The dull glow of the street light

Takes place above the neighborhood

As if it were a glowing planet

Keeping watch, keeping us safe.

 

Turn right down the winding road

That slithers like a snake

Passing more sleeping houses

With the occasional dim television night light.

One more right will lead you to

Transplanted palm trees reaching out to the heavens

With birds resting in the palm frond fingers

And cats prowling the trodden earth

With hungry eyes- disturbed by the

Put-put-puttering of an old

Busted white Chevy blundering down the street.

 

Pass the park that preserves youth

And you’ll find yourself at a crossroads

Ahead of you (and even behind you)

Lies a quiet neighborhood slumbering

Looming in the unknown darkness.

Look to the left, now to the right

And see the street stretching before your eyes

Overpowering lights reflect from your eyes to my own

As you stare at me with wonder

At the beauty of this place where we live.

You take my hand and together we are

Launched into space on a trip to the unknown.