Misdirection

I was talking to a friend

and asked her how to get there

to the end of the world

I could hear her smile

a sharp inhalation

over an old handset

green as her eyes used to be

and with a tired sigh

she gave me directions

they were pretty simple

a left turn here

mind the fork of misfortune

a right turn there

over the bridge that hadn’t burned

and straight on

until the road stopped going

she asked if I was listening

writing it all down

I smiled and she knew that I wasn’t

so she made it simpler

told me that if I lost my way

seek Providence

it ran right through life

so I took to driving

leaving Responsibility with Care

bickering at the corner store

I was content without them

and I could see it all

watching others who had taken the road

split families

that raving tore at one another

spiteful partners

together in their constant loneliness

and as I watched them I lost my way

I always do

I always want to

and I took the misfortunate fork

and I watched the last bridge burn

until the only road remaining

was straight

and narrow

and maddening

and so I turned back

I didn’t want this

I wasn’t ready

to this day I pass that road

watching others head down it

and I wonder if I’ll ever find the way