broken dream

too young to be wise

Broken Dream

 

 

home from away, I walked down

the path we had known...

overgrown as I remembered it...

the path well worn

by the hurried footsteps of teen lovers...

hormones “champing at the bit”

to be sated and assuaged...

their every whim indulged

far away from

watching parental eyes...

...as if they could be watched every moment

I can close my eyes and almost hear

you giggle...giddy in love...

as we ran and walked, and gamboled...

...innocent lambs...

in a wolf-ridden world

whose teeth had not drawn

...“first blood” yet...

 

the trees still lined the path...larger than I remember

and the water tower seemed to

emerged from the foliage

as I neared...

still painted in ghastly blue

“ABC + XYZ forever” graffiti and the like

around the base as high as arms could reach...

used condoms attested

loves less innocent than ours...

I kissed you there against the painted tank

tapping “I Love You” in Morse Code

feeling to the hollow “pings” of our love

resonate through the water

...through our hearts...

we scratched our initials in the cold steel

...our love was eternal

 

first love...a beautiful thing

life was perfect

...perfectly planned

...perfectly predestined

not a ripple in sight...

you and me walking together

down a straight line in the middle of the road..

we didn’t see the sculpted dream

who would turn your head in a moment of weakness

taking...in a heated moment

your innocence you’d promised me

and discarded you...

left you heartbroken...

just another used condom left in the grass

along with your innocence...

and mine...

 

that was our end

I was too young...

too proud...to forgive

you loved me too much to feel unspoiled

 

...I walked way...

 

I hear news of you now and again

one husband...then another

your life one dead end

after the next...

it’s nothing like the dream we planned...

nor is mine...

I find our initials carved into the cold steel...

trace the scratched initials with my fingertips

and think of you and me

and shake my head

 

...I wish I’d been wiser...

 

 

 

Reviews

[Ed Hart]

there is no other road; and wise is not a place, it's a direction...

[deeps]

as I neared...
still painted in ghastly blue
“ABC + XYZ forever” graffiti and the like
around the base as high as arms could reach...

Love this part, this is wonderful.