The rules were plain to
everyone
They were easy to
follow...Most of the time
The instructions were
straightforward
Simply start here and go
there...Almost always
The expectations were very,
very high
Potential can be a dangerous
drug...At every turn
But there were times...Yes
there were times...
When the rules did not make
sense
The instructions were
muddled in confusion
The expectations screamed in
your ears
Until you could no longer
hear the wind
No longer dream the beauty
of the world
No longer feel the warmth of
all that surrounded you
But still...you came through
it all
Beautifully, in the poetry
of your dignity
So many people were there
Helpful, bringing you along
Hurtful, stepping on you to
move upward
But always there
Friends were close
Catching you as you stumbled
Or tripping you as you moved
forward
But always close
And, finally before you
A vast, dirty, dusty,
stretch of nothing
Heat shimmering to the sky
Wind biting into your eyes
Stinging your flesh
The world welcomed you
In its own way.
Turn back ?
Snuggle into the warm covers
Of the blandly familiar
Not thinking, not feeling
I don’t think so....
Look forward
Beyond the shimmering heat
Through the stinging wind
There is the sky of freedom
Enormous, open, almost
menacing
Or is it just too huge to
care?
Walk forward
Wipe your eyes from the
stinging wind
Spit the sand from between
your teeth
Feel the freedom
In the poetry of your
dignity
Feel the freedom