open road

it all began

my life

with a wide open road

it felt safe

but it was my parent’s world

that i lived in

then i was married

the road narrowed

i felt out of sync

two worlds colliding

tensions

family heirlooms

longing

i felt discarded

following

city to city

house to house

my husband’s world

the road narrowed

each and every year

the distance was unclear

a baby came

new eyes

my world

i gave to him

and he gave me his

i saw the horizon

an urgency to live

the road still narrow

dirt and weeds

but then

in the early mornings

words began to fall

shooting stars on a dark sky

the road widened

yet all in my mind

i may be anonymous

but dear virginia

i desire not a single room

in the back

hidden and out of sight

but a world

i can call my own

with rooms

sixteen dutch doors

a studio

of sorts

windows open

a fresh blowing breeze

facing the sun

before my life

is said or undone

not a happening

done unto me

— patty

photo — Photograph by Liesa Johannssen for Gardenista.