The Kingdom of Nowhere
I see a path before us, one that is carved in chalk.
I see a bold red traffic cone, and a path that ends in dust.
I see a sign before me, warning me not to go down this road.
I see a darkness beyond the trees, and I pass a sign on a pole.
I see paste-white branches, and the blue mist of the night.
I see the woods so dark and deep, and the morning nowhere in sight.
I see sunset tulips, before a purple sun.
I see a newfound gift for me, and a long-lost heart to be won.
I see mornings in silent snow, and frost-jammed escalators.
I see blocked-up chimneys, and the blurred-out date on this picture.
I see turbines in the wind, and the wind wipers swishing.
I see fingerprints on glass, and the first raindrops hitting.
I see busted-up hotels, and graffiti scrawled on roads.
I see a fire starting, where it's warm and where it's cold.
I see lightning that strikes, beyond beaches without people.
I see altar-statues on planes, and shrines to good and evil.
I see tattoos faded, mall carts deserted,
Ghost towns flooded, love it or hate it.
I see stories so bleak, old tech that reeks,
Suburbs asleep — set aside for you and for me.
I see nails on iron, beehives on wires,
Digital liars, mechanical pyres.
I see rupturing glaciers, leaning pillars,
Mountains of tires, anything I desire.
I see the roots of ancient trees, cracking through concrete walls.
Amidst the ruin of my house, where one day I shall fall,
I watch the ghastly pale moonrise, a prison for our weary eyes,
Tracks that run off to our right, my resting place for when I die.
I am told the track is closed, I am told the PC is sold,
I am told my model is old, I am told I can't walk this road.
I seek the attic above the stairs, I seek the fun house at the fair,
I seek the castle in the air, I seek the kingdom of nowhere.