Walking down the street <br />On a busy college path, <br />I received a text today <br />From a long time friend. <br />'Have you written poetry lately? ' <br />A surprised statement said <br />And I glanced at my phone <br />Quick to dispel a trend <br />'No, John <br /> for years I haven't spoke <br />Of any consequence, <br />Lost in my thoughts <br />Where nothing passionate <br />Has found my hearts gaze.' <br />While maybe I didn't speak <br />So eloquent in text <br />The thought conveyed <br />Was understood <br />A stilted heart <br /> I had at best. <br />But in my mind, <br />I spoke these words, <br />That I now <br />To you convey: <br /> <br />'Four years <br />From boy to man, <br />Dispelled belief <br />In a master scheme, <br /> a melancholy heart <br />With optimism <br />Over reality. <br />I lost my job, <br />I lost my hope, <br />I knew women <br />Abundant enough <br />To claim a soul <br />over and over again <br />I retried careers <br />And moved my plan <br />I shifted time and <br />Found new goals <br />Still restless, <br />Like knot to a rope. <br />I lost my grandfather <br />And I wrote him praise <br />While staring at tears <br />Ever so strained <br />And I claimed to find <br />A path in the law <br />While playing time <br />And a spirits taste <br />But again <br />And again <br />As apathy drained <br />My bitter heart lost away <br />Confidence <br />Replaced by fear, <br />low esteem <br />Recaptured my soul <br />And I strummed a guitar <br />To find my place <br />But at 28, my passion gone <br />Oh these thoughts <br />Nested in their place. <br />I slept with women <br />To young to know <br />Of the dark recesses <br />That my soul had sown <br />And now as I <br />welcome back <br />A tear on my cheek <br />I'm a digital hack <br />Typing away on this <br />Broken machine <br />It feels good again <br />To know a dream.<br /><br />David DeSantis<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/years-gone-bye-2/
