The Grass May Be Dead.

Thoughts on travel, choices, and the people that spew advice in tired catchphrases.

If I had banged my head against a wall

for every time I had heard,

In completely thoughtless retorts

that empty phrase...

The grass is always greener

on the other side. 

....well. 

I doubt I would have a head to bang anymore. 

I am not a fan of blanket statements. 

(which, I am aware is a blanket statement)

I have moved more times than I can count. 

Each destination different than the last.

Every one of those locals...

Unique in geography,

Unique in population,

Unique in smell. 

The best Barbeque I have ever eaten was in Edisto.

The most wondrous view of a sunset I have ever seen

rests near a horse nursery in Murphy. 

I've watched animated storm clouds

tethered together by lightening

in sweaty, humid Orlando. 

But I wouldn't want to live there. 

I have moved to more places than I can count, 

and I will undoubtedly move some more. 

Don't mistake me not having found what I 'm looking for

to mean that I will never find what I am looking for.

True, there are problems everywhere. 

Perhaps there are new problems I haven't seen before. 

True, there are a******s everywhere. 

Perhaps there are new genres of a******s! 

Perhaps I myself am an a*****e, 

and my particular tribe waits for me,

having yet to be found. 

Have we considered that some yards, some fields...

have no grass at all?

There are expanses of canvas stretched and waiting, 

waiting for something new to be painted there. 

Have we considered that the grass might be overrun by weeds?

What if I don't want to be a ficus? 

What if I want to be a palm? 

Or an evergreen? 

"The grass is always greener on the other side."

Silly people. 

Silly phrases. 

Silly lack of wanderlust. 

Home, 

for some, 

is the outstretched horizon. 

The lines on their hands, a roadmap

to a place they finally fall into 

in exhaustion, 

happy they made the trek,

saying finally.

"This will do just fine."

  

Author's Note

occasionally regretting I do not own a Volkswagon Bus

Reviews

[Cindy Marietta]

Holy s**t this has to be one of my favorite poems ever. Love the detailed memory of each place and the last four stanzas especially. Has a total nomadic feel to it and was really well-written

[Brandon Wesley Mckay]

That is one hell of a compliment! Thank you so much! This piece has been somewhat divisive, it would seem, to many people I've shown it to. ( causing many more blanket statements. ) But thanks again. I really appreciate it :)

[Cindy Marietta]

Haha, no problem! I think it's brilliant! Blanket statements --> People need to learn to be more expressive and specific in what they say :)

[blue cave]

favorite lines:
and my particular tribe waits for me
waiting for something new to be painted there
what I like most about this is that it is redemptive...a spark of hope
well painted Brandon

[Brandon Wesley Mckay]

Always a spark of hope,
No matter where we find ourselves.
Thank you very much.

[dan]

Brandon, the conversational style used in your piece gives it the right tone, won't let one stop reading and won't let go. Some of the lines of text are so smooth that it makes the reader feel like the reader will not stop reading this. This piece gets me aware of how smoothly or badly the tone really is the rhythm that the reader will the reader to keep reading; really nicely done. I'm new here on WC and am still figuring the site out, finding my way to fit right in. I'll be reading more of your stuff later on. Thanks for letting me in to your writing style. take care...riki

[Brandon Wesley Mckay]

Having never been a fan of rhyming in my own work, I usually avoid it....with some exception. Instead, I try to find a natural fluidity in the words and sentences I string together. It doesn't always work, and much of it depends on the time of day, but the effort is made.

Thanks for the comment. I'm glad you read and appreciated it. Welcome to the site! I am fairly new here as well. I have found that, for the most part, people here are pretty friendly. Very supportive. Just write, read and review, sir. Write, read and review. I try not to force reviews...if I have nothing to say then I'm not about to force it....but I try to offer support here and there. I take a break to look over other's work. Enjoy, sir.

[dan]

Brandon, My dad's the only sir in my life. riki or dan (my real name) is fine. Thanks for the welcome. take care...riki (dan)

[Brandon Wesley Mckay]

This is an old habit. My friends and I refer to everyone as sir or mam, even in heated arguments with four letter words. I make no promises :)

[KirstMind]

The grass is greener where you water it. I enjoyed this read, I particularly loved:
"Home, 
for some, 
is the outstretched horizon. 
The lines on their hands, a roadmap
to a place they finally fall into 
in exhaustion, 
happy they made the trek,
saying finally.

"This will do just fine."

Felt a great sense of relief, good job!

[Brandon Wesley Mckay]

Thank you oodles. I do appreciate it. And glad the ending hit you the way it did.