you know the ones
the ones who never felt right in the world
the ones who were always trapped between
potential and regret
the ones who saw all that was sacred
in small things
yet shrank when the big things took hold
and made demands of them
they were never ready to meet
some of them, admittedly
leapt into the fold like
lions
some even made a path for themselves
in the forgotten wilds where others
never tread
but most of them
just lived in the moments
between one moment and the next
and never had either the day or the night
to call theirs
and they faded
gently, completely
to the other side
of their worlds
some shone brilliant
in the great blissful moments
epic with their own doom
trying to grasp things never meant
for their like
things too magnificent to last
things that let themselves be seen
briefly
then disappeared
as if “this was never meant for you” and
“this is all going to be taken from you”
and they receded back
into silent furrows
left deep in brows
drained quietly by rays
of a light
that shone for none
as brightly as it shone for them once
and they knew
in split seconds between the drag of stale cigarettes
and the swig of toxic elements
between the sentiments kissed into lifeless promises
at the lonely hours when the music fades
and the people have all gone home
and the shadows are longer than they’ve ever been
step after step
one before the other
recounting the ways these ways led back to sullen dreams
faced with desire’s penitent recursive gears
one down then up
then slow
slow
slower
they knew
and they stood there alone
and wondered
where the time stopped and the return began
where a miserable eternity
trapped in a halcyon daze
gazed back into eyes that only wanted to keep
looking back
to search forever
the ravaged grounds
where their woes raged
some leapt, it’s true
some were left behind
like me and you
(a wind stirs, leaves flutter
a paper bag is pushed to the gutter
one last drag, a deep sigh
and you walk out
on to the street
without even turning
to say your goodbyes)
never despair
please don’t ever despair
this world is home
this world is home
the world
is our home.
