Nothing Up Ahead

The long road, once beckoning
Now shortened, cut back
No more twists, nor turns left

The early dream, once waiting
Now past, far behind
No more visions, nor pictures left

The budding hope, once growing
Now shriveled, drawn back
No more wishes, nor desire left

The imagined life, once expanding
Now closed, doors shut
No more chances, nor opportunities left

The sweetest love, once warming
Now cold, dead cold
No more caresses, nor affection left

The final act, once denying
Now accepted, endgame done
No more breath, nor living left.

J. B. Hogan has a four-story e-book, Near Love Stories, now online at Cervena Barva Press (www.cervenabarvapress.com). He also has over forty-five stories and thirty poems in such journals as: Word Catalyst, Istanbul Literary Review, Cynic Online Magazine, Admit 2 (forthcoming), Every Day Fiction, Every Day Poetry, Ranfurly Review, Dead Mule, The Scruffy Dog Review, Smokebox, Aphelion, Rumble, The Swallow’s Tail, Poesia, Bewildering Stories, Avatar Review, Copperfield Review, Ascent Aspirations, Megaera, The Pedestal Magazine, Dogwood Journal, Mastodon Dentist, Poets Against War, The Square Table, Raving Dove, Mobius, and Viet Nam Generation. He lives in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Find more by J. B. Hogan in the Author Index.

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