Another Life

Many years ago in another life
Lived by another me
In a town whose name I can't remember
I had dreams
I saw success through un-jaded eyes
Heard the bells of accolades with unclogged ears
A writer, a singer, a psychologist
Archaeologist, or at the worst, life in a cube with a six-figure salary
A house by late twenties, a dog, horse and
Contacts, to rid me of the memories of a four-eyed youth
Travel and responsible dealings
Donations to charity that I could afford
Now --
A failed experiment, the tests marked with bloody slashes
Rivers of tears that don't release but drown me and sting me with their salts
Anchors - yes- there are three but frustrated anchors they must be
I know life is a work-in-progress, a painting with layers we can't even see
But mine can't decide why it looks like Picasso when the blueprint was for Norman Rockwell