I've found myself here.

Nestled into the middle of a field.

Pastel daisies encircle my head.

Weeds worm their way up through the roots.

Echoes of chirps, and the slight sound of an engine.

Heavy heart beats with a clear mind.

I’ve found that my sneakers dug into the grass.

Hours pass in hues of green, yellow, blue.

The tales once told don’t compare to now.

There’s a sharper contrast, a greater vibrance.

The sun creates a bright layer on every cell.

And the wind sweeps itself over everything present.

And forms a cocoon of relief.

Hours pass to the speed of my heart.

A bit too tired for a regular day.

Too curious to stay in-- in the city.

Chain linked fences swapped for damaged wood.

Green eyes traded in for an innocent sight.

Each creature with a life of its own.

Thoughts never dissipate here.

A bit naive, but unwilling to state it.

Free of purpose, laced with laughter.

Yet concrete responsibilities hold residence in my mind.

The deep down feeling you know that this isn’t forever.

The rushing river grazing over rocks.

It gives them a subtle shine you’d never noticed before.

State lines are still your boundaries; Ready, set, run.

Free of ties, no knots of false safety.

Blue fills your sights.

Stretches on for ages.

Mesmerizing enough to forget.

But nostalgic enough to remember.

Stuck here in limbo, unknowing

Every step forward is two steps back.

Blue tints to feelings of hope.

You’d do this again a million times over.

God knows I will.

Because over by the pretentious suits, they fall.

Artificial lives don’t lead to smiles.

They’d rather be lost to materialism.

And roused by arrogance.

You’d do it all to become the waves.

We were born to ignore it all.

Words melt not even seconds after spoken.

Memories become pointless when you truly let go.

You wake up to new days you’re never prepared for.

Wanting to hold onto days previous with no avail.

The ubiquitous reminder you must avoid it.

We were born to let go.

Bite back emotion.

White lies, truth, it can all burn.

A grip so tight fingerprints bruise into your flesh.

They’ll never want to send you off to greener pastures.

Happiness will always win second.

Did they ever care? No.

Bite your tongue.

It’s a chance, a risk.

A heartbroken cry from built links.

Never saw it, but you heard it- you feel it.

Replacements are for naught.

What will never be the same must move on.

Since it’s absolutely pointless to start anew.

It’s a rising responsibility to keep driving.

I will never see an end.

Steps begin to hurt, and eyes slowly close.

The push to keep going, the pull to go back.

It’s a growing pressure on your soul.

Led to believe you know what’s right and true.

It moves on to be the only reason you leave.

I will never belong.

Bones creak with pressure.

Your head follows the clouds made of ants.

Twigs have lost their home into strands of red.

Mud has painted denim and flannel.

Rips and tares hug into the fabric.

It’s clear now that you’re lost.

Bones are all that’s left.

And the words can’t be made out.

Was it a screech of horror, giving unintended advice?

I think the barren streams are getting to my head.

Screams seem to sound familiar.

But I’ve never heard it before.

Sanity is wilting to the beat of the past.

And the repetition makes blood boil.

My mind must be broken by now.

The trees are fading into taller buildings.

The buzz of the streams sounds like honks.

And woodland creatures grow and push with force.

Fresh air feels of dirt-filled soup.

The semblance of home, and I’m oblivious.

My mind must be lost to the sound.

Unnerving confidence.

Twisted thoughts into mush.

The dirt road resembles one of fresh asphalt.

The grass paths muddle into a look of stained sidewalk.

Imagination reaches peak levels.

Whilst the longing begins to define your being.

Unnerving struggle.

New feelings dwindle with new visions.

Sense of comfort took off with the wind.

The sunflowers, the trees, the robins, the sun.

A friendship formed of nature, turns to strangers.

But there’s something intimate integrated here.

The faces formed grant nostalgia.

New, familiar sights settle into my mind.

I hear yells surround me.

Bright, flashing fluorescent lights.

My steps follow the path I’ve learned before.

Days where midnight runs were to cave into cravings.

Dancing through aisles of colors.

Or waiting by the red hydrant for her to finish.

I hear a call for me to come home.

I know this place like the back of my hand.

It’s where first footsteps formed into expectations.

And spurs of creativity were shut down.

And dreams became just that dreams.

Due to the loud reminders I’ll never take that route.

She held my hand just tight enough, so I had to let go.

I know that woman only wants what’s best.

Maybe this is the finish line.

The moment where I finally break and admit she’s right.

I ran through defences and fires.

So now I know I can always escape.

But I also know I won’t leave completely.

The biological bond will remain tight.

Maybe I was never meant to go.

It’s the place you’ve grown to loathe.

Witness the same patterns of concrete under your steps.

The family huddled behind a window.

Conflicted over your return.

They question if they were too harsh.

Even if there’s remorse, deep down they’ll never change.

It’s the true feelings toward you that always shine through.

They watch your shy steps up the pathway.

Trudging your feet along the pavement.

Two green eyes hooked on your every move.

A bit scared, a bit unbelieving, maybe grateful.

I don’t believe they’ll blink- too scared for this to be a dream.

Heavy steps up the creaky stairs.

They watch you reluctantly knock.

A light gradually grows as the old painted over door opens.

Now be ready to be encompassed by frail arms.

Mutterings of I’m sorry and I love you.

Take it, these few seconds worth of apology.

You know it’ll quickly turn to anger.

Take the gentle caresses and sniffles.

A light smile burns into disapproval.

Notice the tear-stained cheeks.

The sad smiles don’t bring out crescent moons.

These moments make it worth enough to be back.

But they turn into scowls and screams.

What? Did you expect something different? I didn’t.

There was always a purpose behind your getaway.

Notice the shade of red take over.