I Stroll as a Stranger


I ambled down the street
Where once I was raised,
I knew all them
Yet they didn't know me
I was raised there
My entire life,
I knew each of them,
Yet they didn't know me
As I strolled down the street

I meandered and shuffled
About the block many times
And yes, I knew them
Yet they didn't know me!

I cried deep inside,
Pondering the journey I'd made
To where once was my home
My street, my youth sweet
Ah yes, I knew them
Yet they didn't know me!

I had traveled cross continent
To light up their day
All those who once knew me
Who watched me grow yes,
Each day in play
I recognized all them
Yet, they knew not me

As I guessed, time had changed me
Reshaped, etched my face
From the car wrecks to bar brawls
Little left the same


I cried out It's Rodney
You remember me!
Yet brow raised they
Sternly stared, blank faced back at me
Alas, how time changed me
Yes, seems none can see

That the heart I once toted
Still rides in same place
Despite the rude markings
Times raked across my face
I cried It's me Rodney
But none seemed to hear

I meandered for hours
My house once no more
No picket fence
The tree no more
That once scraped my knees raw
As I climbed high to see more!

Some say you cannot go home
No never, some do say
I now understand
For I walked as a stranger
In the bright dread of day
Yet veiled and masked
Was the face I once wore
So none saw me walking
That sad day now stored

I smiled waved and greeted
Yes all I recalled
Yet the eyes of strangers
Was all that peered back
I cried hey It's Rodney!
Its me here inside

Yet times hand had changed me
None recognized me no more
I stood seemed for hours
In front, of what once was my home
Then heard sad words singing
You can never go home.

Head hung heart heaped
I shuffled on
Yes, back into time
From whence I had come
For none even knew me
No, not even one!

Hey, It's me Rodney!
I'm still me here inside!


Rodney Evan Bohen