Seventy-four miles
To go back to the last place
Where the seven-year-old
Still felt safe

Back before
The depression
And suicide attempts
Where he tried to electrocute,
Poison, and cut his way out

Back before the confusion
And loneliness
The dangerous
Expressions
Of discontent
Back before all that rage

Back before the
Belt, brush, board
Broom, mop, physical
And verbal
Abuse

Back before
The Freddy Krueger
Nightmares

To a place that had changed
Where everything
Just seamed
So much smaller
And all the kids
Had gone so much farther
Away
Only I remained
In that delusional place

Seventy-four miles
To find
You can only go back
In your mind