autumn gold

in the long of it all,
i look back with blurry eyes
at the earliest time
i can remember.

a soft blanket
and bars around me.

a soft light coming in
through the window.

a soft stuffed bear
at my side.

in the long of it all,
i look back
and remember my smile,
my soft mind,
and the bars around me to
keep me safe.

dark paneling.

gold carpet like the hair
on a puppet's head.

the smell of velvet
smoked through my grandfather's
brier pipe.

in the long of it all,
i find myself staring off
through undeveloped eyes,
hoping to catch a glimpse
of my youth,
and i see the same bars
keeping me in,
but the room has changed.