Goldenrose

i walked down the street
the streets i once used to know 
filled with regrets and heavy with burdens 
of what once happened here

i walked down the street 
a block or so down 

"Happy New Year!"

"I got a little lost; can you show me the way?"

"Inauguration day is just around the corner!"

"Welcome to eleventh grade. You're almost out!"

"Hi, my name's what's your name? 

before he'd left

i could find things

because i knew 

i wanted it to be different for me

you talked too much

or not enough

you let yourself go

or your makeup looked too harsh 

To be quiet more. Be angry less. Watch shows and read books and listen to music people recommend to me, and not forget. Cry, without anxiety, embarrassment, fear or shame. Trust. Bite at the skin of my lips less. Sing more.

So many times you will see

someone on the street who you will never meet

again, and believe you could fall in love.

You will look back, and they will not be looking

at you.

A few times you will think

I'm lost in little infinities, 

in stars that multiply the longer I look.  

I lose count of what's real and what's not, 

unsure when the endless stream of numbers concludes,