thinking my eyes are open
I go running along
and
SMACK!

My eyes were not open enough to see
what was right in front of me

So I look around and see wall after wall
all the walls that before I couldn't see at all

I thought my eyes were open
but now I'm sure they are
so I start running again
and before I got very far....

TUMBLE!

I tumbled right over a divider
a concrete divider right in my path
I should have seen it coming
I thought I did the math

my eyes should have been open
and I should have went around
but I just couldn't see it
I looked but there was nothing to be found

So I forced my eyes open even wider
and I saw the dividers going around the walls
making a path that I should take
a path that would have avoided me these falls

So I started running along the path
So happy with myself
So happy to avoid the wrath
of running into a wall
and falling over the dividers that stand really tall

I knew I was on the right path now
It took a lot of falls but I am here somehow

but in my head I got such a big head
that I stopped seeing the walls...
seeing what's ahead...

and I ran into more walls
and I went on to have more falls...

but I never stopped to think
if I should stop trying to make it
even in those times
I wanted to give up I faked it

until I got to the end of the road
bruised up and bloody
and tired from carrying this load

that I had on my back
struggled with all this way
strained myself to get it this far
strained so much I couldn't open my eyes...
and this was the price that I paid.....

I could have made it with grace
I could have made it on pace
had a great run of this life
me, my kids and my wife...

but I strained all the way
and I did the best I could
with this load that I was burdened with
but I did what I knew I should

I couldn't put it down
I couldn't leave it behind
it was mine to keep
and I didn't mind

so now I am here
at the end of the line
my eyes only part way open
trying to find

a way past this wall
this massive, neverending wall
not seeing a way
to get around it at all

I felt my way along
not being able to see
feeling the coarse texture
trying not to give up completely

I hear others make their way past me
there must be a door
I try to force my eyes open
I use all my strength... down to the core

but I know what I must do
I must put down this load that I carry
but I don't want it to be found again
so I know that I must bury

but the ground is too hard
and I have no shovel to dig
and I don't know what to do
my load is just too big

So at this wall I stay
wanting to get past it someday

hearing the others go on by
and wondering to myself..... why?

why can't I make it past
when everyone else just goes on through
I guess this wall is mine and mine alone
and I know what I must do...

I must tear down this wall
on brick at a time
until the whole damn thing collapses
and then I hope to find another rhyme...

cuz this story is done
and these rhymes have all been said
until I make it past this wall
this wall, that fills me with dread...

maybe another day
I will find the words to say
to say that I made it through
and I'll share what's on the other side...
with you.