The Station

I arrive at the
train station a quarter to two and set down this old guitar.

The man in the booth
asks where im headed to and tells me the charge

I say 'hey man, it
doesn't matter, just give me that ticket and send me away from here, somewhere
far.

He looks at me with
those dark blue eyes as if about to cry, he says  "son I know your type…

Whatever problem is
eating you wont change because of your destination but it's what lies in your
heart that will set you in the right direction. I apologize for my interjection
but I had to share my soul. I hope my advice can make you whole.

I take my ticket
labeled 'anywhere but here' and as I walk to the waiting area  grinning ear to ear I see a woman standing
there, teetering on the edge of life and dis pair. A humming from the tracks
say"your ride is on its way, it's coming in fast and painted jet black so
stand back where you'll be safe"

The woman doesn't
listen no she doesn't have a care she just stands right there so unaware a
gently begins to sway. "LOOK OUT!" I cry while running to her side
and grab just a moment too late. For the train arrived right on time but for
her its her final resting place. From deep inside the tears in my eyes bust out
and stream down my face. I take back my ticket to the counter with a feeling of
disgrace. "Anywhere but here is no destination of mine, I tried to go but
could only show I don't know how to save a life"

"The power is
within you son but listen close to my advice, learn to love yourself then
everything else will begin to work in life. 
That lady there so full of despair was much like you inside, constantly
searching and reaching for more without considering what was already in store.
Living that way will eventually sway your heart and mind to stay in a state of
disillusion. She was at the end of her long road unaware of what had happened
to her mission."

I stared at my feet
with a feeling of defeat and turned to exit the station. Then millions of
images began flooding my mind interrupting my concentration. Like a slideshow
on crack images moving so fast of my childhood and my young adolescence. My
family and friends through thick and thin that have stayed through my years of
self destruction. Tears pour from my eyes as I see loved ones who have died
waving happily from the heavens; then as quick as it began the slideshow ends
with a portrait of my family on the mountains. The picture hangs there in the
black tangled air of my mind as if to say. "Home is not here or there or
anywhere, unless your heart is in it to stay. "

I look at the man
behind the counter who gently tips his hat and winks goodbye. I wave slowly
with one hand and kick up sand as I run out the door and back to my life. No
more searching, no more strife.