a traveling identity

the traveling identity

the car is stuffed and yet

there’s more that needs to go

and the traveler needs to leave in mere hours

and so the traveler does not complete

a final sleep in his rented apartment

which must be empty today

..

packed are boxes and boxes of sculpted birds

and acoustic guitar a bass guitar an amp

and a box containing a birth certificate

and other valuable considerations

..

yet to load is this bag of notebooks

within which the traveler codified his soul

stretched his imagination and his skills

..

it must be loaded

even if something dearly desired must be tossed

..

but a lightbulb over his head

becomes a beacon of hope

..

“climate-controlled storage” he whispers

with a slight smile of relief

..

most of his identity will travel

the rest will stay in the valley he loves

for three months

his soul will travel and yet stay

just a little longer

just a little