AHEAD OF THE STORY

The road before me snaking
Through a story in my mind
Exit signs and faded lines
Going somewhere back in time

Before the days of judgment
When we sacrificed restraints
Driving headfirst into silence
Sinners mingling with saints

Letting all our passions fly
Not a care for love’s refrain
Reckless children play with fire
They have no fear of pain

Souls neglected; scars collected
Trophies for abuse
Yesterday’s a marker
For the selves we choose to lose

Refusing sympathy, we drown
In jars that hold our pride
Parting ways…a passing phase
There’s no safe place to hide

Too late now to turn around
The end you can’t resist
A day like any other
And a point of view we missed

The road before me snaking
Through a story in my mind
Traffic signs and faded lines…
Leading somewhere back in time

A modicum of insight
Shedding skin as if a game
Lovers kept on shelves between
The books you call by name

References and footnotes
Secret words and useless rhymes
Chasing time with pen and paper
Love letters once called divine

Whispers in a kiss, she blew
Inside a sweet goodbye
Tried to catch it, but I missed
Pre-occupied, no wonder why

There are no lost horizons
Destination’s all in vain
We said we’d never fall, remember?
Walking in the summer rain

And still, I searched the haunts we loved
Some stalking, maybe so
All for memory’s sake, you know?
Or breaths to take (or story flow)

I always need new coffee stains
Remnants of some happier times
But mostly, it’s those sad refrains
To justify poetic lines

There’s nothing more to prove (it’s true)
The blues cling tight to throats
Those syllables spin round and round
A life defined by quotes

And rhythm flows like wine
Drinking to a future fail
Have you heard? New book out soon
More hot air to fill his sails

Still, the road before me snakes
Through stories in my mind
Traffic lights and lonely nights
Heading somewhere back in time

TM DiSarro

From: THE MEMORY OF RAIN

TM DiSarro