You are There

I sometimes escape
into the realms
of the fantastical
as refuge from
a troubled reality
I cannot control.

I have accessed
this secret door
off and on
for 40 years
to obtain a
degree of solace.

Some people scoff
"it’s not real"
though they live
a fantasy of
their own making
deceived and deceiving.

I cannot explain
what I find
in imaginary places
but I know
even in the
depths of Sheol

You are there.

_______________________________

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Out of Context

Attending a conference
a straight shot
from the Mid West
to the East Coast
having navigated the mountains
of Pennsylvania and invested
heavily in the turnpike

I am out of context

Each day my schedule is set
the night previous
sitting in my hotel room
unable to sleep
the daytime filled with
meetings and lectures
but afterwards I am lost

and out of context

Wandering the streets
of Philadelphia humming
that Springsteen song
taking pictures
of people and places
eating cheesesteaks and chinese
because taking pictures

gives me context

It makes me feel connected
showing the street vendor
the photo I took of her
in an exploding sun flair
giving the homeless man
a dollar to take his picture
ventriloquist dummy in lap

connections creating context

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