Years passed by.
A million roses bloomed and shattered,
petals falling to the dirt.
I thought they were beautiful,
both fresh blooms and fallen petals.
More about the years:
A thousand miles were silently driven.
Road was rolled over by rubber,
tread there and gone,
a quick passing.
The purpose was
to get somewhere that is not road,
and be still
and be silent again.
There were a hundred spoken disappointments.
In the beginning
I didn’t realize
I was expected
to fulfill a wish
for perfection.
A hundred
deliberate brick silences
were imposed
to shut down any back and forth.
It was effective.
I am more than 100 expectations
laid on me.
I am more than 1,000 miles
traveled
I am more than 1,000,000
shattered roses
I am but one.
But I am
One.
I am not silent.
I am talking now.
I’ll tell you what I learned
from a rear view mirror.
I understood more
as rubber rolled on road.
I see the expectations
and resist conforming
because it’s not where I’m going any longer.
I checked in with my own hopes
and decided our roads diverged.
I can hold my past up high
and need no consolation prize
for the pains.
Indeed, shattered roses are beautiful lessons.
I walk, eyes open, into my seasons,
Forward and happy to go.
Lynette Hensley
2020