No longer home

As I walk the streets of this city
And can no longer find my way
In a place that I grew up in
The buildings here are new to me
The landmarks have all changed
The re-birth has come upon us
And the re-generation is under way

When I was a child
I would proudly stand and say
I would never desert this location
What reason would I have to leave?
My whole life will be here and now
And then slowly everything changed
Including my own mind

Family members were first to go
Moving away to pastures new
Then slowly but surely
My friends followed suit
But I really can’t blame them
For following their dreams
After all that is what I want to do

I try to re-visit places I recall
But they’re no longer there
My places of sanctuary
When I needed solitude
Are now full of people
Working like drones
In a newly built hive

And as the journey continues
And my heart sinks down deeper
I dream my dreams anew
Of leaving this place forever
Shunning the thought of ever returning
I will leave behind my memories as a monument
To this city that is no longer home

09/30/2001

Posted on 09/30/2001
Copyright © 2024 Paul Little