Walking down the street
On a busy college path,
I received a text today
From a long time friend.
'Have you written poetry lately? '
A surprised statement said
And I glanced at my phone
Quick to dispel a trend
'No, John
for years I haven't spoke
Of any consequence,
Lost in my thoughts
Where nothing passionate
Has found my hearts gaze'
While maybe I didn't speak
So eloquent in text
The thought conveyed
Was understood
A stilted heart
I had at best.
But in my mind,
I spoke these words,
That I now
To you convey:
'Four years
From boy to man,
Dispelled belief
In a master scheme,
a melancholy heart
With optimism
Over reality.
I lost my job,
I lost my hope,
I knew women
Abundant enough
To claim a soul
over and over again
I retried careers
And moved my plan
I shifted time and
Found new goals
Still restless,
Like knot to a rope.
I lost my grandfather
And I wrote him praise
While staring at tears
Ever so strained
And I claimed to find
A path in the law
While playing time
And a spirits taste
But again
And again
As apathy drained
My bitter heart lost away
Confidence
Replaced by fear,
low esteem
Recaptured my soul
And I strummed a guitar
To find my place
But at 28, my passion gone
Oh these thoughts
Nested in their place.
I slept with women
To young to know
Of the dark recesses
That my soul had sown
And now as I
welcome back
A tear on my cheek
I'm a digital hack
Typing away on this
Broken machine
It feels good again
To know a dream.
David DeSantis
http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/years-gone-bye/
