The path of small steps

Ushered into the darkness of corners,
piled deeply with things forgotten;
gathered for purposes hidden
beneath the obscurity of dust.
Saved for later,
to become a burden of possibility;
a reality parallel to the one lived -
the should have been
of mushy intention.

Yet another year has passed
to lay with all the others;
strewn across the travailed road.
Waiting for the caress of memory
to resurrect the details,
selectively recalling the sweetness
of culpable joys - more likely
ducking when regret flings
its eventual denunciation.

One footfall after the other;
the hand of destiny lightly pressing
into the small of the back -
propelled toward the inevitable.
Without projection,
stripped of illusion -
the desperate hope denuded.
The heart opened and helpless -
branded by time’s relentless prod,
on the way to nowhere special.


© 2002 Melissa Songer