Member Poem

All roads lead to rome

But I’ve been roaming these streets

Looking for a getaway

And it’s all too elusive

I took the path less taken

Covered in fallen branches from

The yellow wood

Leaves of brown and red

Littered the choice

Walked a mile in someone else’s shoes

Found out they were the wrong size

Feet bled

Marked my path

A gruesome Hansel and Gretel

Faded away by rainy days

Grey clouds

With the silver lining of forgetting past

Selves set on shelves

GI’s and dolls

Positioned in a line

Saluting the present

Wrapped with a bow

Ribbons cut

As a line is crossed

Indicating completion

An opening

A grand opening

Big scissors with rounded tips

Running with the intent to injure

Childish yet appropriate behavior

For one so lost

In their coloring books

Making blue zebras

Different dimensions

Where the floor is lava

Covered up by rugs

And furnishings

Families that don’t talk

Floors upon floors of broken

Granite and marble

Kitchen counters

Stained with beer

Love

Hate

And history

Another notch

Etched in by clumsy fingers

Holding a knife

Not warranted for one so young

The days that I’ve walked

Gliding into existence

Through other’s eyes

Beholding a beauty

A mirror couldn’t

Plethoras of decisions

Piled into a step

Pushing each other aside

In hopes of being a prophet

Walking towards a light too faint

For naked eyes

But clothed in sorrow

Is seen as a sun

Beating down

Whips of heat

Sweat on the brow

Of the eyes

Of a person

Foolishly wise enough

To stare long enough

To see god

In their blindness

Wandering alleys

Taking paths

Roaming streets

Paved with golden

Hypocrisy

Ending up

On roman numerical

Streets

Lined with columns

Plaques reading

Achievements

Like “rode bike for the first time”

“Made lifelong friends”

“Graduated high school”

“Graduated college”

“Ate healthy”

“Ate unhealthy”

“Had sex for the first time”

“Had sex for the last time”

“Said I love you”

“Never touched the ground”

“Reached“

“Failed”

“Succeeded”

All towards a light too bright to stare at

Turning away

Looking at the paths

Marked by blood

And blue zebras

Facing a new road

That leads to home