Slithering and skidding across a life. |
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A Long Road BendingThis life is one long love-songand I’ve trouble with the lyrics Yet you still smile from the piano when I’ve forgotten words, then hold me up, never holding on Allowing me another breath I’m afraid to look you in the eye It’s easier to glance away, always hope to find some sense for me in penning notes Forever trying to find a name for the ghosting nameless Reaching after description, a sense of times gone, choices made and lived so long ago They’re foggy now and yet my heartbeat sometimes quickens and there’s a tight fist somewhere in the middle of my self esteem A swallowing of missed opportunities And gulping away the fear So, what is there in looking back that rings true? What looks right and sounds like music that’s not too over-scored and manipulated to meet whatever’s the current need Is a hit tune really quite that good, or does the whole thing depend on rhythm and beat, woofed and tweeted, amplified? Scores written across night skies in blue-black ink Small wonder it’s obscure lying here, looking up Maybe I’ve just not found the proper key, still humming and it seems beyond me, stays just out of reach Play it again Sam, it’s got to be a sort of mirror-writing, clear in the reflection I’m obviously standing here and looking for the proper shade of green in a whole damn forest Sorting through brambly underbrush for one clear thought Otherwise I’ve tricked the truth and truths have a way of tricking back when least expected They jump up and bite me in the ankle It’s simple enough, this mucking about from day to day The struggle for a song is mostly maintenance on several levels Offering a comparative economic choice on the Mercedes-Meter, when any fool should know that a motorcycle fills the bill With someone on the back I care about, arms around my waist The maps all left behind for those who look for destinations Running with me and the wind, singing phrasings in my ear Making time to lay on grassy-banks and let it slide a while Wandering and wondering along with me where it all will end If we’ll find the song we’ve written is finally just a long road bending |
 This poem is included in Jim Freeman's poetry collection CORNER OF MY MIND available here in print or as an e-Book in your favorite formats. |
