THE BRAINLESS CORPSE IN VELVET

“All roads” I say to the college that rejected me

“All roads” I say on my walk to the one that accepted me

“All roads” I say to the cotton candy haired women waiting for their rides

“All roads” I say to the only man waiting for the next CTA train at 2 AM

“All roads” I say to the Amtrak that never came

“All roads” I say to the black and golden city skyline

“All roads” I say to the can that brings warmth and x-factors

"All roads" I say to the forest and the corn and everything Illinois is

“All roads” I say to Vicente Fernandez and the rest of my roadside companions

“All roads” I say to the eccentric man outside the Checks Cashed

“All roads” I say to Mexico, Honduras, Spain

“All roads” I say to the ones traveling with me

“All roads” I say to the front of the car caked with me

“Are we there yet?” My old self says to me.

“We’re here now,” I say to the dead me and all the me that comes after

“Lord, give me one more chance,” I say at 4 AM, begging for change

“All roads” breathes God, the wind, and every tree

in the concrete woodlands