Barcodes and UPC's

A Poem by saijinsong

I’ve spent all my time trying to set things up,
dial in the perfect sound
a perfect balance in the highs and lows
I’ve thought of all the things I’ve done and didn’t do
and said and times I’ve kept my lips sewn up and focused my attention
on anything other than the goal of my intention

Because of this I slipped and failed to notice
or maybe just refused to see what was standing
just a few feet away from me
All my hopes and dreams were right there looking back at me

But still I felt like something wasn’t right
and my life was in need of a bit more analysis
so I just paid my tab and continued on
and tucked the key away safely, out of reach and made my way to another place
for another drink and some time to think
so I couldn’t see the goal of my intention
and focus my attention on the little things I need to change
habits and acquaintances I need to rearrange

I’ve spent so much time
on the details, the little things
the bar codes, the UPC’s, receipts
the checks and balances
And all the while
I couldn’t see
perfection standing right there
just a few feet in front of me

But something kept on drawing me away
from all this logical contemplation
towards the face
in my dreams and for a time,
fantasy overtook my definition of reality

Because of this, I failed to see
what was standing right there in front of me
the angel of my dreams,
dancing in the rain right there next to me

But I came to realize,
at least in my mind, or on the outside,
that time is on my side
when I awoke in a dream,
wrapped in a blanket of angel’s wings
to the sweetest smell lingering
in the pillow laying beneath me
So I remind myself that even through this
she was here, and it wasn’t in my dream