Once,I Was Good

as we all try
to control our fears
it's a blue-crisp summer mourn
after the violent tropical storm
the eye of Irene pasted
over the virginia coast
7 pm around suppertime
I am 100 miles inland
north of Richmond
most lost their electricity
we were lucky and got off easy
as I am filled with comfort
for my up comming move
tomorrow I get the key
tomorrow I start
to get all of my things
objects I belong to
material possessions
that hold no life
but,are apart of my life
enough value to keep
pick-up and place
into a new space
to take and make up
all that is my home
surrounded by places
faces in the crowd
my mind with have to combine
why I choose who
treat all with respect
strangers & friends
I know how lucky I am
to have my mind
I just love how I think
I am a person worth knowing
I have done so much growing
people change
I am proof
I place my faith
in the power of friendship
I can be a good friend
I try
to control my fears
of the people I left
now 10 years ago
people are strange
no one can hang on
to hatetred like I can
loathing like I can
I am honest with myself
about why I can now
trust in me
the respect I show others
is the respect I keep for myself
respect is earned
respect is important
even when I was learning
about friendship
I never knew why
those great people in my life
were so important
like the first few friends I had
they demanded from me
respect
significance with consequence
I had to give unto myself
I had to earn their trust
to get their love
we all grew together
I lived better then
I had a direction home
I was not unknown
Once,I was good