Lakes were frozen one Winter day.
Everybody saw the frozen water.
All motion halted the moment
Winter started. The trees looked
naked, humiliated. The trees hated
cold weather just how people
did. It was fine for those who
embraced the cold. They walked
on frozen lakes. They conquered
their fear of falling in. They
saw a reflection of a fearless
face, learning to love the cold
and its embrace. They learned
to enjoy the lake on a Winter day.
Looking back, I can tell you that
I wish I could do things over.
I look back and feel sad;
I think of the life I once had.
There’s a lot of pain in the past –
pain that is sure to last.
Looking back, I see what I lacked.
All I can do is look back.
I can’t change the past,
especially since time goes fast.
Looking back, I have done a lot.
I have done more than I thought.
When I walk forward, I look back.
I am sure to never backtrack
before I pave a brand new path.
I’ve been around the block
to take walks or kick rocks.
I’ve seen the block get hot.
I’ve been there when it’s not.
My people have been around
the block and are down
to work around the clock.
This block has four sides
and I’ve seen each one.
I know everyone here. I do.
When people see me,
it isn’t anything new. It’s true.
See, I know this block well.
Each person here has a story
to tell, some about their block
and some about their cell.
I’ve been around the block
and others like me have, too.
This life is nothing new.
If I can’t be found, look around
the block: where I tend to walk.
I live for the night. I always stay up.
I stay up as others lay down;
I find peace in a sleeping town.
The night time is the right time
to face the dark side of the day.
I like staying up deep into the night.
I feel alive when I walk empty streets.
I love sitting in a row of empty seats.
When I stay up, I see lights turn off.
I am awake to hear something
quickly turn into nothing. I am awake
to bring the only light into the night.
I am here to do my work out of sight.
I live for the night: What can I say?
My light does not shine during the day.
In this life, I’ve seen you at night
haunting me and my dreams.
I don’t go a day without seeing
the ghost of you. You left me,
but your spirit did not leave.
I’ve heard your voice. I’ve tried
to say hello. I’ve tried to touch
your shadow that always showed.
I’ve been haunted by memories
that only your shadow knows.
The real you couldn’t be found;
yet your ghost stayed around.
Only I can see the ghost of you:
As long as I live, I’ll be able to see,
the ghost of you, in front of me.
IN YOUR DREAMS POETRY 