on fire asking

you drop lower, down
fading away like a dream
simply vanishing
from the view i enjoyed
before the stepping stone
tripped you up
even though laid out for you
clear and persistent
detailed and concise as if
drawn in ink or in stone

you strayed
never seeing the signs
as they guided your next move
simple. as leaded pencil
used for a cursory exam
more of resolve than talent
not even questioning
but probing for the hard stuff
we hold closely to our hearts
failing to give in

in the end the outcome, predisposed
as we shelter ourselves
from the remnants of who we were
and in the footsteps of those
who walked before us
shaping our paths
for better or for worse
based on the actions of another
before ever realizing
today is all that matters