Picking Lanes
Picking Lanes
What Lane Are You In?
Don’t even think of finding me
My footsteps are erased
There was a time I believed in love
That space has been replaced
Sad moments fading in and out
The times you chose to drink
The bottle’s bottom knew you well
too much I’ve seen the brink
The cliffs I’ve climbed to wait for you
In case you need a break
The angst of watching pain again
I’m helpless yet awake
The footsteps, all have been erased
Each step riddled by mishap
Each moment engrained into my brain
cracked caps labeled deathtraps
The pens scribe yin and bleed in yang
despondent moments explained
The pages drenched in crimson pain
And wiped clean with teary shame.
Swift relapse into cyclic flames
sun-kissed lips with pent up ache
in merriment a time or two
Before life pumps the brake.
Time while countless, has finite lanes
The ones we trek everyday
Some promptly exit, some drive the course
Some stay lost along the way….
~~~
For more works like Picking Lanes by this author see Paul Neglia on The Creative Exiles.
https://www.creativeexiles.com/author/pauln/
You can also see more great work by Paul Neglia on HubPages.
https://hubpages.com/@pnknucklez
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Great phrasing, Paul, in this poem of paths in a life. The paths we choose makes or breaks our spirit. I enjoyed reading this piece. Well done.
Thank you Phyllis. Sad we have to keep walking these paths, though so people’s road is harder traveled than others.
Not only does the topic bring back memories of my own battles (over ten years sober) the word choice and the composition of your line are memorable and beautifully crafted. Good job Paul! Jamie
Jamie thank you so much for your kind words. God bless you resilience. 10 years is a major accomplishment you should be proud of.
I feel as though you are free now…while in your lane. The one you have been in. There is sad moments that you remember from staying in your lane…but you can see it all from the lane you have been down. You have the freedom to recall the trip down “your” lane. Here’s to the open highway and what lies ahead!
Great poetry, Paul, with hard-hitting aspects and emotions. Your phraseology is so good, the poem flows, like a path, as your look back over that particular path you trod, its impact on you and others.
It’s a timely warning to others. I hope you have happily found a different fork in the road now and are treading a path which brings you joy, however difficult it might be.
Happy Easter to you!