Inadequate path

You get to the point
Where shadows are so sweet
That you tremble with memories
Life is vivid, more clearly defined
When we are young and so alive

I remember one sister
Her smile full of love
Meeting at the airport
creating a joyous reunion

Another sister
Is so sweet
That Autumn leaves can make her cry — when dad truly loved us
And always gave what time he had
How can I forget such a great and wonderful man

Each of Mother’s milking cows had a stall of its own
when her dogs died or when our cattle had to be killed
It was as if she took the bullet herself
She had that much tenderness inside

Her only brother died sadly
Many years before
And his death left a hole in her heart
That anyone who looked could plainly see

Both of my parents looked at me with love
Showing painful concerns while I lay in bed
It wasn’t always our way to say so
But an undeniable bond lived inside our hearts

You can get to the point
where politicians sound loops
Express over and over the same greed
Denying the same needs which make us all human

My neurons need their meds
But the hang-ups I have entertained are really only mine
Their signature is scrawled on my suffering
Yet I don’t know why I can’t just accept my accepting

You can get to the point
Where memories are so sweet
That you’re tempted to just give up
But none of us who move towards the light
Could ever accept such an inadequate path

Peter W. Johnson — 1/05/2018

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