I understand now that 
life is a circle 
not a carnival ride
there are no tickets 
to hold and punch
starting somewhere ending another 
round round we go 
stopping to take on
new to let off
old merrily we go 
and then at last 
we end where started 
all alone with ourselves 
but wiser and stronger 
and happier and loved
for having the courage 
to walk this promenade 

I know 
little not
and don’t 
want to 
be known 
but rather 
just be 
over here 
for there
I’ve been 
too many 
times before 

I swim in empty 
the sounds all muffled 
a quiet surrounding me 
creaks and cracks echoing 
thumping thuds add dimension 
I hear nothing but 
the noise of same 
and this brings comfort 
like cream to coffee 
and sugar to tea

I think where
more than why
now there where
rather than there
there a soothing 
song of dismissal 
and often indifference 
there then is 
the swan song 
and Hail Mary 
the last chance 
for gas before 
the desert miles 

Who I was
then feels like 
a nightmare and 
today a dream 
how could I 
being only one 
go from there
to here for 
don’t people belong 
to one place 
or another but 
I as a 
child used to 
walk atop fences 
I guess some 
things never change