I always wanted to get away-
across town,
across Hart Park,
get out from under the weight of this town.

Where old memories
would bear down.
Ghosts of expectation
on the road to Milwaukee.

I never left,
but life is fine.
My wife, my kids,
we get by on smiles and coupons.

We watch TV,
wonder about the world,
and now my teenage son takes flight-
with talk of leaving home.

Ezy Reading is out every month.