strange how far down the line you remained with me,
breathing down my neck.
and if I thought I deserved you, you’d be my enemy.
tired of the fight,
of the din.
guess I should spend more time getting over you.
and if you’re not up to changing,
who am I to blame you?
old town, we’ll never be alone.
new rome, you’ll never let us be.
all that we ought to be, blood in your body.
strange how far down the line you remained with me.
am I your ancient history?
will people name a street after me or should I just keep paying bills?
I nod and I smile and pretend that I struggle.
send my thoughts to the broken.
it’s been a lifetime of watching you,
can I please just look away?
I have no doubts anymore,
no nets, no guarantees.
a few words is all takes.
some will abide, trying to pray away the pain,
to savour the drama of the day.
and I love you, but just say,
why would I stay and watch you die away?
those who got out early know in their bones this is all a false paradise and they’re lucky to be breathing.
mired in numbers and in law’s double-talk,
in mindless games and fruitless labors,
grinding.
dawn in new rome,
pale yellow, scentless gray.
sleepless commuter-folk wearing their human coats.
the light is searching for angles to shine through.
buried beneath bus lanes and noises.
the sun, it arrives but it shines on no one,
the delusional and the childish look for morning.
a hope for a start and a death and a raise
and a welcome change that a hand makes out of nothing.
counting seconds, one by one,
covered in blood that’s not mine.
there must be more to life.