Watching

a daze turning to quiet purpose
a look straight into the cacophony
of the morning squeeze
he was finding the place where he fit

then stepping out
beyond and forever
into that direction
that will lead
down the path of tomorrow

to that distant place
round that unseen bend
and into the lives of perfect strangers
that he will come to love
or avoid
as logic dictates

but either way
to need

that distant horizon
is full of discovery
and wonder
and heartbreak
and sorrow
and the vibrations of being alive

I pray
not being alone

I will stand here
and watch you go
and remember how much I didn’t know
when I was you

oh, but to be that perfectly naive
that beautifully innocent

just one more time
to anticipate with uplifting uncertainty
what is ahead
just over that rise
and to burn with desire to find out

just once more
to be that eager
and willing to believe
that anything
everything is ahead
and it all to be had

and to go
shuddering in the joy of living
eyes wide open
longing to see
aflame to know

so go you
go

I will watch
until you slip out of sight
into that life of yours
that I do not know

so go
go and catch fire

burn brightly
burn brightly!

~ ~ ~

rob kistner 4/13/18

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