"Perpetual Motion"

Tired feet carry me out the front door

down the steps not looking back

words, words, words

I’m drowning in a sea of words

pounding, rushing sound

looking for clarity I flee

shut out the noise, make it stop

the thunderous pondering quiets somewhat

I walk a little bit faster

leafy green trees go by in a blur

lines in the sidewalk trip by one by one

left then right, I can’t stop now

brick buildings, sign posts and lights

warm sounds drift from open doors

but I pass them by, I cannot stop

farther and further I wander

looking for something I don’t know

flexing fingers clench tight into fists

keep them from moving, from typing

securely shoved in the pockets of a ratty old sweatshirt

I plod on, with downcast eye

watching the lines in the sidewalk run on

into the distance, where do they stop?

When there is no more sidewalk I turn

perpetual motion keeps my feet moving

as long as I keep going I don’t have to think

the maelstrom in my head can’t catch me

I begin to jog slowly, then to run

Deep, raking breaths of cool air

sends stabbing pains up through my chest

the pain is exhilarating

I don’t want it to stop

Lost in the suburbs

Nobody knows where I am

I wonder if they’ll worry

nobody will even notice I’m gone

and yet somehow I’ve turned around

heading home, back to the storm

back to the reality of responsibility

I can’t escape, and it’ll never stop.