The road has been some sort of song
Longer than the 45 I thought it might be
Closer to the beginning
And winding turns
For me they’ve been more gentle curves
With maybe a few hard swerves
I know where the ways I’ve traveled
Have taken me
But in hindsight, true, I didn’t know
That I’d end up where I am
Strong? I’m not sure
My fear more that I’ve been weak
Never leaned into those curves hard enough
Never pushed them to those full turns
Wrong or right
Dead end or opening highway
Adventures missed
Many have carried me on my road
And if I haven’t thanked them before
I’d like to do so now
With these words
The living and the dead
They all were surrogate
Brothers and sisters
Mothers and fathers
Laden with sadness, perhaps
Maybe more laden with wonder
That I’ve lost so many
On whom I still do depend
Even though they’re gone
Their long roads
Wound down before mine
Lanning Lee 