passing the disrepaired grey picketed fence
the glance says it was once great white
blistered permanent cheeks from salt spray
hand reaches up to wipe tears from the eyes
that once were a deep inquisitive blue
now clouded with years of disappointments
was it that nothing mattered after all
was it that once poor always poor
was it that even love was dismissed
into the nothingness mists
there have been lonely times chosen for silly rhymes
there have been joys that raised up even the desperate
to view a sunrise that came across the even tops of jagged mountains
there have been epiphanies when realized few breaths stopped short
knowledge that enlightened only the starless skies
yet through all the soul simply skimmed along
it survived to the dismay of the ego's way
like a soft surrendering shrug of rounded weary shoulders
love blinked love from the liquid that kissed each shore
of a journey that only changes form
when the humanity slips away
poor is poor until there is no more
but for the soul immersed in knowledge
that love is love and poor is nothing never was
the slow gait ginger across washed sands and jagged rocks
takes the old bent figure into the final sailing
sunsets moonrises shoreline silently waving
no look back as the dark water foams sink into the cloth of torn skirts
sinking into the longest journey done
love is love poor is poor
til there was nothing no more
it all starts over tomorrow for someone
somewhere
a nation away
or a week from yesterday
the only memory is what is left like salt residue in others' hearts
