erie, pa

those forty five minutes on an infinite road as light through back windscreen,

the sunrise during the dawn, the sunset during the dusk

both lit up the sky with polychromix of a blazing fire

while my eyes glanced by the thousands emerald trees  

after so long, I could memorize them all by now.

seven suns were spent on the same hill, as greenery surrounded it

three suns on the end with yellow daffodils,

then four suns on the top with white lilies

as I sat, I learned.

each person offered a new virtue; love, compassion, confidence, morality 

the blinds of generational trauma were taken off as the years passed 

as my perspective progressively altered by the grace you delivered

however, I was also given pain, selfishness, distrust, and immorality

the same trauma was amplified by them, 

which caused me to crawl towards your darkest temptations to cope.

the culmination painted my personified experience that the tigers could never control

where a pressured potential engineer became a self-decided potential filmmaker

after falling in love with the arts provided by you, which have taken me elsewhere

however, I know I cannot hold you forever.

after all that I experienced, your ectascies and your tragedies, every lesson, I never regret,

a love formed and attached that I’m so scared to cut 

because I am afraid I will lose the soul built for myself.

however, I must have faith that what you’ve given is assimilated in my spirit.

therefore, I’ll carry you always.

thank you for every place.

the two schools that lead me here to begin with,

the mall where I spent countless hours walking with my friends and dates,

the small house in the suburbs that I held closer than a big house on the lake

thank you to everyone.

the group of boys I grew up with in middle school,

the funniest and wisest multitalent and a girl I shared several stages with, 

my best friends in high school,

and a childhood friend from the lake who would become a lifelong companion

and if meet the heavens before I see you again,

just know that I loved you very much.

all the roses I was able to see and all the thorns you pricked me with;

the places that became home, the people who became family,

and the memories that became a foundation.

a unique experience that I view as a god’s blessing; 

the one I never asked for, but always needed.

thank you for everything.

goodbye.