generational

how do people walk away and stay

it is like checking out of hotel

and leaving luggage behind in the room

or maybe

standing in the kitchen

but living in the tv

because real life is too hard to bear

or standing in a room

and not being alone

and yet so lonely

where mid sentence

a door shuts

suddenly maybe you

are aware

alone standing there

without a response

that the key is lost

to desperate hearts

the butterflies took flight

and words

words are never enough

it is the oldest of stories

passed down

without an inheritance

just dark ghosts

behind closed doors

everywhere

where love has been misdefined

and broken hearts find it hard

to hold a life

sacred

because of where they have been

it is the flame that won’t go out

the perpetual match

that lights human misery

and yet so difficult to blow out

humans who cannot love

were never loved themselves

and their children will not be loved

as well

and ironically we find ourselves

in a human society desperate for love

and yet can not find it

the empty glass

the dry sponge

the lonely room

the boat that goes nowhere

the broken foundation of love

under the house

not a single pier

children grow up lost

unworthy

a passed down

generational fear

and tossed lives

eventually cave

from the heavy burden

because even the perfect bloom

needs nurturing to survive

those who are soulfully wise

scapegoat or golden

to break the chain

bravery must come first

and heal what appears to be

the oldest of sorrows

incendiary ancient pain

passed from mothers and fathers

the dark clouds and rain

that will without fail

without sun

continue into every tomorrow

— patty

art by saul leiter american street photographer 1923 — 2013