Pawns
My pocket was filled with change as I stood before a cold vending machine. Nickels and dimes and some quarters left my fingers to purchase can after can of the same brand of soda. By the time my money had run out I placed six cans of soft drinks on top of the machine and aligned them in an even row. They made me think of a shiny army or silver pawns on a chess board.

I don't know what came over me, why my behavior was so odd but felt so good. When I returned the next day, all the soda was gone. The oddest part was, I believed they would still be there. My doctor said maybe these were symptoms of a hidden malaise. But upon reflection I thought he was the crazy one for living a life never enlivened or one he would not set free. So I left a handful of dimes on his desk and said adios. There was a pay phone that called my name.

Milky Way
On a pitch black November night, I drove alone in an old Chevy car. With the window rolled down, a cold air against my skin, I escaped as far as an anxious man can to a next street light. When the red light disappeared I pulled over to the side and bathed under the spirit calm of a soft green hue.

A rear view mirror looked at me, and I looked into the window of my soul. Then came the unexpected peace under a changing street light; like autumn leaves...the colours falling from red to green and yellow in between.  I waited under the milky way until it poured into morning. Then my steady hands turned the bleary car easily around.

I knew in my surrendered soul I was too old to run...the open road now closed to this restless heart. This thought filled me with joy as I drove home. My warm bed would await me...I would close my eyes and sleep till a second sunrise and awaken to a newness...stretch and yawn to a happier me.