for my friends Aurora Harris, Richard Rohm, and Matt Fisher

The Learning Curve

for my friends Aurora Harris, Richard Rohm, and Matt Fisher

I used to enjoy the spinning around
Which life seemed to be at least formerly
But now am being run into the ground
Pursuing freedom finding slavery

Were life some crazy spinning carousel
What started here would finish here as well
But life seems a train run right off the track
Which would not appear to be coming back

Riding for my life on a learning curve
With hairpin turns a shudder and a swerve
And the wonder what I did to deserve
Riding for my life on a learning curve

From the frying pan of conventional
Ideas to the fire of alternative
Realities or unrealities
Manifold and multidimensional

I find myself challenged by times like these
And glad I am not a conservative
Those are the ones who are really upset
Not even seeing what has happened yet

I used to enjoy the hustle and flow
Of life on the fly as it barrels by
Of not knowing where it is that I go
But getting there just along for the ride

I see now it is true that I must die
And what a spectacular accident
It smells like someone has already died
As from a distance I hear the lament

The locomotive careens crazily
The cars fall on their sides this way and that
I wonder if that lament is for me
And whether I should get my coat and hat

No: I will ride to the end of the line
Although there is no line here anymore
This railroad is crazy but it is mine
Although I never knew what it was for

Riding for my life on a learning curve
With hairpin turns a shudder and a swerve
And the wonder what I did to deserve
Riding for my life on a learning curve

+Steven Curtis Lance



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