Once Upon a Time

Sitting alone in a small suburban dinerI remember some time ago,
it wasn’t that long really,
when I dreamt of New York City cafes
and becoming the next Jack Kerouac.
I was younger then

but I would have never admitted that to you
because even though I was only eighteen
and had just graduated high school
and my life revolved around dances
and text books,
I knew the world.
You have it all figured out then-

all doors are thrown wide open
and there’ll be no stopping you.
But time is a funny thing

as a life that wasn’t in your plan
creeps through a door left slightly ajar
from which comes a cool breeze
that you’re surprised you hadn’t noticed before.