Riverside

With the Punches

I dumped out a box of old 
family photographs
spread them out across my bed
Grandpa Lou
you wouldn’t believe just how 
much this place has changed

and I hate to say
that this city lost it’s shine
and the sense of style
and class it had back then
overrun with greed
spending the money they don’t have
to buy the things they’ll die before they need

I’m only sure I need a change of scenery

Every week’s the same
I can’t stand to waste another day
complaining but making no real attempt to be different
when I finally leave this town
I’ll take the interstate right down the coast
and maybe I’ll head west
to figure out the next spot to call my home

Never forget
the way the brightest stars
lit up the balcony of my apartment
on my last night
I looked up at that sky
and realized the change had been in me

somewhere along the way
started making sense of all the things I’ve heard
it’s not about where your time is spent
it’s what you choose to do with it