Abandoned Town

In a town not far from here, just out of the way
Events and scenes played out, some could ruin your day
It all revolves around a boy, a young man you could say
Somehow I know about this, though I live far, far away

Sitting on a bench, I noticed the bramble, the rust
I thought, why is this entire town covered in dust?
With no one to sweep, and those people never a fuss
Something wants us here, to stay longer I must

With time on my side, the sun being new, my mind to wonder
I reached deep in my thoughts, this place to ponder
Seeing my steps, through this place, would I saunter
To another place in time I should have gone there

In the quiet of the late afternoon, surprised I heard
The sound of the shoes dragging, but never a word
Knowing now the sound was close but the haze it blurred
Whatever or whoever was approaching, my intuition erred

I expected a man, with a business to open, dangling a key
Who would sit behind a counter hoping one day, prosperity
So to fill the time the shelves he’d rearrange, so gently
Later I learn he died right there, imagine it happened peacefully 



But that was later and this is now, the story I tell
About that sound, the sound coming, I remember so well 
For I didn’t know then, but later on my knees I did fell
For that person on a stake, most in town, wanted to nail

I can’t explain it, no I’m not the judge or the jury
 It is way more than that, so at times I still worry
That he’d recognize me even now, my soul he’d bury
I’ll tell you what i know, what happened so early

The day was young and with no place to go
I drove around roads, ones I didn’t know
To kill my time before my time pushed me below
And gone with the wind, my blood never to flow

A sign read something about an approaching town
With nothing to do, figured I’d have a look around
On the bench I sat, remember I said, there was no sound?
If only that were true, if only nothing I found

As he passed, that sound of kicking the can
Stuck in my mind I saw even the brand
For a moment he paused, next to me he stand
And turned away quickly, you might say he ran

The dirt on his neck, the dirt in his hair
Was still apparent, although he’s here
What happened next, I am still aware
Though to remember it’s not something I bare

The ladder to climb, only halfway up the brick wall
The roof top was high, the ledge was too tall
To walk it like a plank, within moments he’d call
The story was told he didn’t trip, no not at all

Painted on broken glass, faint, read the sign, “for sale”
Though only two words, that glass has its story to tell
It’s too late to protect the pane with wood and nail
A rock and the boy took care to see it all fail

A post of metal, seemly pulled by a broken chain 
Once held the identity, a proud street named Main
Why break it down, what is there to gain?
The more that you listen, the more thoughts of insane 

At a diners table, picture the man old, grey, and bent
Enjoying what he could afford this day, the waitress she went
To the swinging doors, and retuned with money to be spent
Two eggs, buttered toast, coffee, and better days to lament 

The sidewalk leads to an ally, I make my way back 
Imagine the sounds and tired old faces, all of them black
The white ones separated, like a stone wall lay the track
Of a train running no more, with a rope givin’ no slack

A walked with purpose away from that sight, wanting to go
Anywhere else for I kept thinking things I did not want to know
That same boy was here I swear, now his face will not show
But those eyes gave him away, the story they told

Down steps that seemed hidden, I now make my way
Pushing open a locked door didn’t take effort, there on display
Glasses, bottles and chairs abandoned quickly dare may I say 
The change owed for a juke box, Sam Cooke it would play

But why did they leave, what made this all happen?
Their hands all together, with attitude where clapping
The wood floor looked very old for the feet that were tapping
Now lost forever, the boy, their years he did the mapping

Stumbling upon a shed with a car still inside
A door still open with nothing to hide
But looking much closer to discover I tried
Why was it left, left for no one to ride?