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