ace mars lest july
don’t grow old
live in your youth
for as long as you can
you’ll know the moment you lost it
the sharp turn
of letting go
the beauty in your eyes is shattered
the thought of the future
frightens you to your core
a bright light on the horizon
don’t live in the past
those better dates
are long gone
the end is closer than ever before
another day to wake
is not guaranteed
so listen to your elders
don’t grow old
stay young
forever
i’d still be angry with every lie, the shadows cast aside
every argument ending in a tie, any satisfactions denied
long mornings or silence, to evenings of tolerance
the loss of reliance, to no audience
if i took up arms, you’d only cry
there would be no harm, nothing to dignify
but you didn’t learn, you set fire
now it’s my turn, to ruin your desire
you always complained about the past, how you were hurt and distraught
but i was a fool for thinking it would last, getting lost in love’s thought
putting me in your position, how ignorant you are to see
will i ever get an admission, of how you wronged me
has anything truly changed, i’m on the losing side
hearts rearranged, i know i tried
to stop you – from becoming what you despised
it’s the street names that set me off
the memories that are tied to them
if i headed in your direction
if i make the turn, i would break down
my heart would beat strongly
like the first time i met you
my stomach would turn and ache
i wouldn’t be able to stand beside you
anxiety would cut into my soul
so i head straight on
not letting the memories recollect
swirling in my mind
leaving your town
is the only thing that helps
the farther away i am
the calmer my soul becomes
my heart begins to beat again
to a new rhythm
in a new direction
at a new destination
to another
wishing got you in trouble
when you started to run
they caught up and put you in
under the radar
the fever dreams that followed
long nights of dread
put into perspective
to break instead
counting down the days
till recovery takes over
making sure perfection
cures all
mistakes are forever
the scars a memory
forgetting is hard
with constant reminders
i almost felt guilty
for judging you
when you skipped town
went out west
to forget your problems
cutting all ties
to your old life
making new friends
inheriting new places
to call your own
to erase the ones
you didn’t feel
belonged before
you ran away from family
said no goodbyes to old flames
left no trace of your existence
as the sun set
you left it all behind
through northern towns
the prairies
the rocky mountains
you came to the end
of the country
to redefine
who you are
what you want to be
i know you don’t think about me
when the wind skims your hair
the waves hit your feet
the rain kisses your face
and the moon shines above you
as you walk home at night
it’s probably for the better
to remain forgotten
in your past
for your clean future
to remain intact
as the town you left behind
moves on just the same
with you as a distant memory
far off, away