the longest half mile
side by side,
each step a tear
and stride a sigh
my left shoe, repentance
and penance on my right
i walk down sidewalks
of words and silence

i thought i'd left it
another night ago
on a ten-mile run
in a sleep of crying
but it came back fast
true as an arrow
the pen proves
my quick is no match

there's not enough tears
no number of sighs
to bring me out
of where i've tread
the longest half mile
i'll awake from
to find my self walking
again.