Astray

Astray

You find yourself
walking through narrow alleys
where footsteps slap the ground
in rhythm with your quick
beating heart.
Looking up
you see darkness but
can’t be sure what
time it is.
A view from the sky
would join these streets
together, like the mercury maze
toys you played with
as a child.
Except now
the destination is away
from the center
not toward.
Peeking through
the century old buildings, dull
moonlight highlights
your anxiety.
Sharp sounds of metal twists
your eardrums then
your whole body as you turn
to see another rat
finding food.
Straying further from
a place you used to find
lovely, you keep
looking back, hoping
to see something
convincing enough
to induce return home.

Reviews

[Cadence of Heart]

awesome....

[gravitylava]

really great! awesome work, i love it from start to finish.
-michelle

[Kett]

...i prefer the dark.

[Emily B]

This is extremely beautiful. Wonderful work.

[Sel Whiteley]

This is a stunning piece of writing that skillfully employs the metaphor of journeying. The idea of straying, going away from the centre. I especially like the idea of employing the children's toys you had to suggest that innocence:

A view from the sky
would join these streets
together, like the mercury maze
toys you played with
as a child.

And the use of 'you' of course addresses the reader increasing our involvement in the poem. Beautiful!