Sitting in a bar
on a rickety chair
drinking the good stuff
watching men and women on the television
run the track with determination
and sureness.
Even though they run in circles all day
they know where their going
and purpose runs from head to toe
stride to stride,
all somehow figured out.

I take a another swig of the good stuff
and it's gone
and a sense of sadness perches on my shoulder like a raven
"Nevermore, Nevermore"
I say in my head
staring into the foamy unknown of the bottom of the glass.

"Reading your fortune in the bottom?"
calls a voice
I break concentration, who said that?
Was it you  Raven?
"Nevermore, Nevermore"
my head leaves the glass and glances forward
at the bartender and my mind drifts to the movies.

"Something like that, have you ever seen Harry Potter, the third one?"

"Right, yeah"

"The tea leaves in the cup, I keep expecting to see the grim in here"

A laugh and a smile in return
and I do see the grim in the bottom of this glass
and it haunts me
my head and mind move back to the runners on television
hoping for distraction.
but now I'm there to
beating that track to my feet
running much slower
puffing my chest and gasping for air
and they run so much faster,
pass me with ease
and many reach the end of struggle before me
But, I'm finally here
running for a while
seeing the end for at least a little while

finally, for now, no raven on my shoulder gawking:
"Nevermore, Nevermore"
finally,
for a little while,
some direction.