Homeward Bound

I hear the clock whisper

“Tick tock,

it’s getting late”

But me,

I’m a creature of the night

I tell it,

“I was born at eight”

The shift doth end

The people do leave

And I sweep with a smile

Because I know

No matter where they go

I only go a mile

I pick up my things

Tie my loose ends

And head right for the door

If you still got something left to say

I suggest you hold ‘til morning

My motorcade awaits

I pull off in the dark

Some days I like music

Sometimes my mind is stark

Silence often serves me better

On days like today

But whether I am

Mystified or misty-eyed

I always find my way

I slow down until I stop

Eager to pull in

Whether it’s a quiet night

Or a house all full of sin

Open the door to a wafting smell

Like giving time a hug

Kick off the shoes

Hang up the hats

Straighten out the rug

Collapse in dust that covers the couch

I breathe my moment deep

I laugh too loud

I dance around

Ignore my laundry heap

I close my eyes and open them

Spinning as the colors blend

Run up the stairs

Fall to my bed

What if I never lived here?

Where else could it be instead?

I spring to life a little

But not enough to move

I stare at my walls

And down the dark halls

Sometimes with medication

On top of alcohol

I hear things creeping by

I can’t help but giggle

What if the place is haunted?

I only mind a little

Times I want to be lonely

They tread on my toes

Times I shouldn’t be

Alone with me

They become heroes

Is the haunting of the house

Or the witch inside?

I always wondered

If I left

Would they ride or die?

I ponder, ponder everything

My mind it races fast

I do something

For my memories

Of a longing past

When it’s cold and

I don’t want to go out

But the cravings come

without a doubt

I lean out the window

Like when I was a kid

Sneaking cigarettes

Like the smell can be hid

Some have routines

But I do rituals

I do such things as though their visceral

I remember what I thought back then

And look for some odd book

But I give up

Because it’s too much

To see how much it took

Fighting for my life

Just wanting to belong

When all I needed was

The stuff I couldn’t see

I was simply much too young

Forget that

Move on

Wash it down the drain

I cleanse myself in steaming waters

It feels like tropic rain

When I am anew

I find something to wear

I slip into silks and velvets

I step on clouds

And this how

I show myself I care

I light incense

I roll a joint

And as I smoke

I review

What was right and how I’m wrong

Or maybe I write a song

I lay amongst pillows atop my bed

I raise my arm to hold my head

I adore the lights that twinkle above

I look around and see my love

I put it in every corner of every room

I fill it to the brim with my mood

I pass each doorway

With adventure in my steps

Always ready to go

Even though

When I am away

I always second guess

But if I could describe it at all

This would be my best:

Home is where the heart lands

When it freefalls into rest

A place where dreams can come to life

If only in the nest