A Familiar Route
written by: Jayesh Sharma
Here I am
Again, or perhaps this is new;
At least, that’s what I tell myself
Watching a familiar path unfurl
GPS narration in tow:
“This is a saved route. Would you like to proceed?”
I like to think
That this time is different
Recent memories replaying
Pounding against winded plastic;
An old VCR
Straining towards relevancy
Empty lies are the worst kind
But they taste nice
All the kind things people say
Fall on deaf ears
Who know that past your smile
Lies resigned defeat
Small cracks ripple
Upon a porcelain vase
The kind you see shown off
To portray, somehow, beauty
Yet, I find more in these ripples
Seeing myself cascade through
I wish I could put this in solvable terms
Frustration, agony, resignation
Anything to see the way
Illuminated after darkened posts
But I can’t
I can’t, and there is nothing more
All I can say is this:
Here I am
Again,
Frustrating, agonizing, and resigning as it is
Perhaps this is a little different
Than the last time
And the one before that
Yes, maybe it is
“Yes, proceed.”
- A Familiar Route - May 18, 2026
