No More Tears Poem by Phillip Erb

To this day I still remember
The directions you gave me
To make sure I got to you
I typed them onto a blank page
Five lines to help me remember
Where to find you stranded
Left alone with a suitcase
And a purse full of everything
But dollar bills, of which
Very few were tucked away
To buy you a bag of chips
Or one small child's meal
At the Burger King when you feel
Another day and night on the
Hard seats, cold floor, and
The friendly people few and far between
Make you feel like starvation is coming

Stole those five lines,
These careful instructions
And put them in the middle
Of each of these words
It's all just an attempt to
Let all this lonely heart
Hold a piece of you to remind
Me that even life doesn't happen
Ever like I plan it
In fact tomorrow carries
Just as much certainty
As the last kiss you lay
On mom or dad's cheek

Main door middle,
Turn right, look for the ropes
Against the windows are chairs
Close to the windows
Purple jacket

Whatever happened to you and me,
How much more than I can see?
Too many dreams, not meant to be
Too many bad days, extra bleeds
Broken hearts fall into many peaces
So I am the one who has let too many
People into my life, too many in plain
Sight from corrected lights, good eyes
That cannot see the future for the past
Nor find a single thing meant to last
What is it that's wrong with me
Why do I sit here so alone
Who is there back from sea
One I can welcome home
Here's the list of everything I need
A new life
A new love
A new wife
A new home
A new heart
No more lies
No more crimes
No more tears
No more fear
How can I step in and find
Some where I cannot be blind?
A place where I can have mine
A place with more company
Then I have never defied
This is a short list for me
Just give me something
To stop all that bleeds
Thank you for your time
And the great mystery