The Last Poem

I threw my favorite shoes in the lake

The Lake was no more than about 4ft. deep 

So I could still see them 

If I ever wanted to come back

I walked towards a fork in the road 

I picked whichever way 

The sun's blinding rays were shining

I ran with hopes of endless pots of gold

with every breath

I stumbled upon a cactus, 

I put my hands on it

I jammed my hands into it 

Like an angry man putting holes

In thin apartment walls

I bled,

The sting lasted for hours 

I kept the laces from those now 

Watered down shoes 

I needed them to make a noose

Sweat was dripping into my eyes,

Still no match for the sting 

Of prick filled hands 

The salty taste on my tongue was of my mother 

Sweat reminded me of home, 

I was a man, a strong man 

With too much to carry 

I wanted to be that carefree boy again

But that was impossible,

Like knowing the exact moment of a strangers death,

That was impossible 

I finally came to an old tree:

Very thick, bare, & deathly haunting

The branches were sturdy enough to hang 

My every hope & all my dreams

Stripped bark across the bottom 

Revealed a gathering of bees 

The Queen was in the center 

I assumed she was happy

The only Queen that would ever give me comfort

Was not a human being,

But a bee 

Nothing but a fucking bee 

I was home, but still 

I was worthless 

I climbed the tree 

Took my shirt off 

And baked in the blistering heat 

As time told me what I needed to do 

A single gust of light 

Cool air ran across my entire body 

I closed my eyes & shut off all my senses 

As soon as I awoke 

I felt hot road, & small bits of rock 

Cutting the skin between my toes

I knew what I had to do

I buried the noose 

I went back to the lake for 

My shoes

© 2010 Anthony Desmond Scott. All Rights Reserved.

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