i used to have a grasp
of a future with bright lights
that shined and shined
forever and ever
[somewhere,
the electricity bill
reached epic proportions]
there was a roadmap I had made up
with only green lights
no detours or difficulties
just a smooth sailing wind
eternal clear skies
and a sun beyond the horizon
[somewhere,
a rainforest became a desert
and the tropics dried up]
books had filled my mind
with fresh ideas and concepts
degrees of understanding
point of view cultivation
eager to speak and ready to share but—
[somewhere,
a dictionary went blank
expressionism became
discouraged looks]
when i was younger
i was advanced for my age
in third grade math
i answered faster
and solved numeric riddles
[somewhere,
a man calls the proof quits
turns his back on the chalkboard]
i will be a worm
in a sea full of fish
bait on a line
if i don’t find my core
i thought i knew
and now i don’t know
[somewhere…