lost highway

the lonely road

along a sculpted river
out past hell and ruin
fixed and worn and empty
it only goes away ---

need not be consciously sought to be found
might reach an exit but can’t turn around

a bad sense of direction
a sad lack of instruction
a wrong turn at decision
and there it is ---

toward a distant never
beyond hope and reason
vexed and stern and ready
it only leads astray ---