Walk in the Woods

When my load seemed heavy and no one knew

I sought the shelter of the trees, thoughtful

Pensive shade dappled with sun drops as if

Hints of happiness just out of my reach

To sit among the young shadow-loving

Plants that grow low among the larger trees

Breathing in the calm of a unique place

A random perfect garden-scape of poise

Giving grace to a sad and lonely boy

As he kindled a tiny smokeless flame

And boiled a can of B & M Baked Beans

Trying hard to infer what it all means

Too many times the odd one out I did

Not learn but fought in vain my fate seeking

Equality where there was none to find

Through the knee deep snow I walked away

By snowmobiles suddenly surrounded

My classmates I won't say my friends stopped me

With a pornography peace offering

Suitable for an adolescent boy

But for me airbrushed skin had no meaning

For it was too late to be a boy then

Knowing how truly I was alone

If I had known what tortures lay ahead

I would have gone camping as I'd planned

With any luck had frozen stone cold dead

So spared those hard expensive lessons

Life was at such pains I should be taught

A long stretch there without a woods to walk

Just pavement that makes the lonely nameless

And decades of brutal mindless sameness

At long last then to green woods returning

Leaves of peace my anger turning

To wonder I could have strayed so long

From the woods that made sadness a song

Where all who need solace and peace belong