by John Roberts

 

Naming the places

calling the names

seeing the faces that surround me

with all I remember

gives power to,

righteous disruption.

 

I walked back into the town I remembered

as Odysseus disguised as a beggar

unnoticed and unrecognized.

I returned to see,

what remembered me.

 

“We remember who you are.”

Sidewalks and alleys spoke.

“Though you try to disguise

your downcast eyes.

There is more here than you can see.

More than the child inside,

remembers.”

 

Waves of time ago,

time past, returned.

Pushes watery memory deeper

further down into languid blue,

to speak again.

 

“The conflict you construct

is your own self-demise,

your own imposed disruption.

We have waited

now,

we smile at your return.

Lay your blunted sword down, beggar

drink memories’ blood deep.”

 

places

names

faces

that surrounded me

with all I remember,

has brought me,

Home.