i hope my words are strange and wondrous,

like kisses that quiet all things superfluous,

so that we can all stop and

listen

jaded too long

cynical too long

bitter too long

when the going gets tough

i end up trudging.

heavy stomps,

weighted footfalls

slamming again and again into the pavement.

thud,

thud,

thud.

and when it gets tired,

its easy to collapse and lie where i fall.

the pavement feels cool against the heat of a strained body,

and it is calm and quiet,

except for the heart in my chest

thud,

thud,

thud.

but i have been lying and resting,

paying attention to the rise and fall of my breath.

wondering on the hard "whys" and figuring out the tough "hows"

in trudging, losing sight of that which i started out for to begin with

in resting, finding i was sick of looking at my feet all the time.

the blood pounding against the back of my skull,

thud,

thud,

thud.

stalling too long

delaying too long

avoiding too long

reluctant too long.

its time to

press on.