Different Roads

I met a holy man today.

His entry door composed of rustic wood beams,

with no paint or varnish

his bare feet were dirty below the numerous holes in his sweat pants

his porch covered in many summers remains

iron shell back chair rusting in country blue

beer can ornaments, battered red and white plastic cooler

and holey socks,

the silence was his only wisdom as he watched me pass

his rheumatoid home with his cataract stare. 

I drove slowly by the same blonde girl twice

making her way down the broken sidewalks, and

weed-filled expansion joints 

but on different roads as if the day had stuttered her 

to be two places at one time

she wore a pink blouse and black rim glasses on her nose

 as she waved me forward, I could not see the color of her eyes

only a bifocal refection of the trees on Fifth street.

I drove by an American flag at half mass as 

it rippled in forlorn waves of endeavoring or remorse

the road before me shimmered its juxtaposition in 

a river of golden sunlight as if forming a boundary

between the have and have not.

a few more roads along my journey,  all the houses began 

to line up in neatly mowed lawns and dying summer colors 

still bright after a recent rain

but inevitable as if they knew they would be all gone

in the following days as they rushed to display as much life

as they could before they die.

I could not stop the tears that suddenly came, 

the sheer-raw, sad-beauty of it all stung my eyes,

as I thought how you would have loved each aspect 

beautiful in its own accord 

or maybe,  just that it made me think of you.

Author's Note

Reviews

[Little Whisper]

I enjoy walking along this old road to read your poetry....Each poem still like opening a Christmas gift.

[Corset]

Tis the season, maybe Tara will turn us into elves again this year

[h d e rushin]

First of all, I like you. They say that if you rub long enough the same stone, a diamond might appear. I met a holy man once. He scared the s**t out of me. Of these encounters, I need a more defined explanation. dana.

[Corset]

I think that might be coal, but under lots of pressure, like anyone would be facing down a Holy man, I like you too my precious friend. As if defined by mystery, once it becomes clear it is no longer a mystery, that is when the diamond shines through :D My imagination runs rampant in these parts :P

[Pax]

Apathy is such beauty in melancholic reflections, it may seems in life we walk in different roads but that doesn't meant we can't totally relate, suffering are all the same in some as aspect... Truly a wonderful piece my friend... Sia is a true genius in her own genra...love her..

[Corset]

Thank you Paxie, yes, she is! Me too!

[wordman]

many roads for us all to ponder

[Corset]

Hey Wordman how are you! Hope you are weathering the witness of all these universal storms well!

[wordman]

i am still kicking corset,you`re welcome

[Caroline B A Maguire]

beautiful... sentimental but not gushy.

[Corset]

Thank you, Caroline, for reading and your comments are much appreciated! :D