Anywhere But Nowhere

When ceilings were cast on dreams
air thickened, swelling lungs 
with unbreathable mediocrity

pen is clutched
in reluctance of dim witted judgement,
small minded skewed views,
all pushing towards 
Oprah Book Club fame
under a midwestern bubble.
That trophy would shine 
like the second hand cars surrounding

When ceilings were cast on dreams
a terrified scream evaded me
as lips were bit in the traditional
small town offend-me-not fashion,
my pen faultered and died...

Fear is passion disapating into lonely corners
accepting it's quiet demise
Never realizing sea breeze or sunrise
alive and never living
while calendar pages fly by abandoning

Regret is for mourning souls
past possibilities of redirection
and compromise
I break westward stepping over spilled milk
toward angular man made mountains 

Now the pond fish evolution begins
as I swim in bigger waters
insignificant and loving it
feeling anonymity breed inhibition
and onward to infamy

toward my name etched in spines
and altitudes I make my own




**inspired by John Heck's "Edge" contest
Copyright © | Year Posted 2010

Poem

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Bulger Avatar
September 2, 2010 at 12:30 PM
I love this. Insignificance, also I treasure, I actually prayed for it in the 80's so now I am kinda ya know, gettin' tired of it. Be very careful what you ask of God Steve.... Smile though, we all cannot be millinaires with no good taste in beer... bye, Cindy
Nandy Avatar
August 3, 2010 at 1:50 PM
Congratulations! really deep, overwhelmed i am with sadness n fearlessness in reality.
George   Avatar
July 20, 2010 at 2:44 AM
Awesome! Free Vrse, Steve, I have wrestled with this same free and have laid my pen to rest often because of it. Congratulations on your win in John's contest. Lainie
Crisci Avatar
July 19, 2010 at 8:47 PM
Congratulations on your first place, Steve. I feel the sadness in your poem, and yet truth is revealed so fearlessly. Keep up the great work. Kindest Regards, Andrew.
Brown Avatar
July 19, 2010 at 6:59 AM
Congratulations Steve on your well deserved win in John Heck's contest "Edge". Love, Carol
Marcum Wong Avatar
July 17, 2010 at 8:02 PM
Steve, I am in awe of your talent! This poem deserves to be in the number one spot and I congratulate you and couldn't agree more with John's Choice. Bravo!
Brumley Avatar
July 16, 2010 at 7:00 PM
Congrats on your big win Steve and a beautiful expression wonderfully penned.
Sweetheart Avatar
July 16, 2010 at 2:47 PM
Congrats Steve on your first place win in John's Edge contest with this marvelous creation..for the contest.. enjoy.. with luv..
Guzzi Avatar
July 16, 2010 at 2:31 PM
wowser the last 3 verses are perfection! Congrad's!!!
R Avatar
July 2, 2010 at 12:49 AM
Great writing here...good luck in the contest!~Emily
Culverhouse Avatar
June 30, 2010 at 5:04 PM
great for the contest!! Welcome to poetry soup.
Eakin Avatar
June 30, 2010 at 3:58 PM
Fear is passion disapating into lonely corners accepting it's quiet demise nice, ive always felt theres been something wrong if i have no fear in my life so that line seemed genius to me.
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