Loose Blue Jacket

I pull the zipper to my chin

The night is cooler than before

I left my phone upon the desk

And closed the heavy wooden door

Moving fast brings the quiet back

The wind blows softly through the trees

I do not have a place to go

Just guided by an evening breeze

My shoulders drop an inch or two

The traffic sound begins to fade

I pass a bakery dark and still

Where sweet old memories were made

Moving fast brings the quiet back

A stray cat walks along the fence

I feel the cool air in my throat

And everything starts making sense

The problem stays the same size now

But I am steadier than I was

I do not ask for any sign

I only walk because I must

Moving fast brings the quiet back

The pavement curves around the hill

I watch my shadow stretch ahead

While all the world is standing still

My breath is steady in the dark

The zipper hums against my chest

I take another step along

And give my tired mind a rest

The brass key turns inside the lock

I step out to the cold cement

My head is full of afternoon

I do not know where I am sent

Walking helps when nothing else works

The street is quiet and the air is chill

My heavy shoes hit every stone

I start to walk until I am still

The first ten minutes are the hard part

The thoughts are running fast and loud

A truck goes by with roaring wheels

Lost inside a noisy cloud

Walking helps when nothing else works

A yellow cab turns down the lane

My hands dig deep into my coat

I leave behind the indoor pain

I do not need to fix a thing right now

Just put one foot before the rest

The sidewalk reaches long and far

A simple rhythm in my chest

Walking helps when nothing else works

The evening sky is turning gray

I take a breath and slow my step

I am okay along the way

The streetlamp sparks and flickers on

I keep my pace and follow through

The heavy mind is letting go

And I am walking back to you

The narrow passage opens up

Red bricks are damp from morning rain

I trace my fingers on the wall

And leave behind the indoor strain

It takes some time to clear the mind

The pavement sparkles in the light

I hear the echo of my boots

And everything will be alright

A wooden fence, a rusty gate

An old bicycle chained up tight

I do not rush, I do not run

Just stepping softly through the night

It takes some time to clear the mind

The shadows lengthen on the floor

I stop to watch a flying bird

And ask for nothing any more

No answers sitting on the ground

No secret written in the stone

Just simple walking line by line

Until the heavy thoughts are gone

It takes some time to clear the mind

The cold air lands upon my face

I find my rhythm step by step

And settle down in time and space

The brick wall ends, the avenue

Is waiting quiet in the shade

I keep on stepping steady now

And let the noisy thoughts all fade

The walk sign changes to a hand

I wait beside the curb alone

The amber light flashes above

A quiet world made out of stone

There is no hurry in my feet

The crosswalk lines are thick and white

I take a deep and easy breath

And step into the fading light

A car rolls by with radio

A song I used to know so well

I watch the red tail lights recede

And listen to the church tower bell

There is no hurry in my feet

The corner store is glowing warm

I feel the chill upon my skin

Safe from any indoor storm

I do not care which way I turn

Left or right or straight ahead

The road is long, the night is kind

Just like the gentle words you said

There is no hurry in my feet

A gentle breeze begins to blow

I count the steps from light to light

And let the tangled worries go

The signal flashes green again

I cross the street without a sound

My mind is light, my feet are steady

On this familiar solid ground

The wooden slats are cool and dry

I sit a minute just to rest

A fallen maple leaf flies past

I feel the stillness in my chest

The world goes on without my rush

The trees are quiet in a row

I watch the clouds move slow and high

And let the small frustration go

My feet feel heavy in my shoes

My breathing fills the quiet space

A solitary walker passes

With gentle rhythm in their pace

The world goes on without my rush

The grass is damp with evening dew

I trace the wood grain with my thumb

And feel the quiet coming through

I sit here till my hands grow cold

Then stand back up and turn around

The troubles didn't vanish now

But better footing has been found

The world goes on without my rush

The park light glows a soft pale red

I stretch my legs and step away

With clearer thoughts inside my head

I leave the bench behind the trees

My footsteps fall in easy rhyme

The walk goes on, the air is clean

And I am taking all my time

The porch light shines a yellow ring

Across the porch and down the stair

I leave the hallway light turned off

And step into the night-time air

The dark is soft around the house

The street is sleeping block by block

I walk away from where I stay

And listen to the town hall clock

My mind was spinning round and round

About the things I couldn't change

Now under lamps along the curb

The whole world doesn't look so strange

The dark is soft around the house

The neighbor's cat jumps on the wall

I keep my hands inside my coat

And do not worry much at all

An hour goes so fast or slow

It doesn't matter either way

The physical world is solid here

And carries me until the day

The dark is soft around the house

The oak trees bow their branches low

I feel my pulse slow down its beat

And let the restless spirit go

The porch light glows far down the street

I see my house come into view

The door is waiting unlocked now

And I feel steady, calm, and new

My thumb rolls over something smooth

Inside the pocket of my coat

A river pebble round and small

While night mist hangs upon my throat

Just pay attention to the street

The pavement hums beneath my tread

The noise inside begins to drop

And peace comes back into my head

I pass the playground painted green

The swings hang motionless and still

The moon is rising white and clear

Above the pine trees on the hill

Just pay attention to the street

The stone is cold against my palm

I trace its edges as I walk

And find a simple kind of calm

I used to think I had to know

Where every single line would lead

Now just the ground beneath my shoes

Is every single thing I need

Just pay attention to the street

A yellow window down the line

The world is bigger than my thoughts

And everything is doing fine

I turn the stone around once more

And slip my hand back in the dark

My steps are soft, my breathing deep

As I walk home past the park

The clock tower strikes the half past eight

I do not check my wrist or watch

I step across a puddle edge

And leave behind the inner notch

There is no place I have to be

My shadow stretches out behind

I keep my stride even and slow

To settle down my busy mind

A dog barks once behind a fence

Then silence fills the path again

I watch a leaf drift to the dirt

And feel the cool fall air come in

There is no place I have to be

The city lights glow soft and low

I take a breath of open air

And watch the gentle night wind blow

We spend our days in such a rush

To fix what isn't really broke

Tonight I just walk down the road

And breathe the chilly winter smoke

There is no place I have to be

The sidewalk leads me around the bend

I walk until my shoulders drop

And quiet is my only friend

I slow my steps near my own gate

The long walk did its simple part

I turn the handle, step inside

With quiet breathing in my heart

The glass shelter stands cold and clear

A paper schedule on the wall

I lean against the metal frame

And watch the yellow elm leaves fall

Walking brings me back to earth

The bus is fifteen minutes late

I do not mind the quiet delay

I sit right here and calmly wait

A street sweeper goes humming past

Brushes spinning on the street

I watch the water spray the curb

And warm the cold air with my breath

Walking brings me back to earth

The streetlamp casts a gentle glow

I listen to the city sound

And let the heavy feelings go

No need to ride to somewhere new

To make a bad day go away

Just standing here beside the road

Is good enough for me today

Walking brings me back to earth

The distant headlights come in sight

I stand up straight and check my coat

And step into the quiet night

The bus rolls past, I do not board

I'd rather walk the rest of home

My steps are warm, my head is clear

As I walk down the road alone

The wooden planks creak underfoot

The stream runs black and slow below

I rest my hands upon the rail

And watch the water currents flow

The water carries what it gets

It doesn't fight the curving shore

I take a breath of cold wet air

And do not worry any more

A duck swims past without a sound

Heading for the reeds nearby

I look up through the bare tree tops

And see the dark and open sky

The water carries what it gets

The bridge is solid, wide and long

I feel my footing sure and plain

And listen to the river's song

Some thoughts are like a heavy branch

That floats away down with the stream

I leave them on the water now

And wake up from a noisy dream

The water carries what it gets

The moss grows soft upon the wood

I stand here till my mind is still

And feel that everything is good

I step off from the wooden bridge

The gravel driveway crunching loud

My head is quiet, heart is calm

Far from the indoor rushing crowd

The cardboard sleeve is warm and thick

I hold it with both gloved hands tight

A stream of steam rises in air

And disappears into the night

One small comfort is enough

To make the pavement feel like home

I sip the hot drink as I walk

And feel okay to be alone

I pass the closed grocery store

The apples glowing behind glass

I take a long and steady step

And watch the quiet shadows pass

One small comfort is enough

The streetlight lights the paper cup

I look down at my walking shoes

And then I raise my forehead up

The day was hard, the room was tight

My thoughts were tangled in a ball

Now holding warmth inside my palm

The big problems feel small

One small comfort is enough

The steam blows back across my face

I walk the empty avenue

And find my own easy space

The cup is empty, tossed away

Into the bin beside the gate

My hands are warm, my stride is true

And I am home, though it is late

The old pines lean across the path

Their needles soft beneath my tread

I hear the wind hum in the boughs

High up above my tired head

The trees don't ask me for a word

They stand here through the frost and sun

I walk beneath their dark green shade

And feel the heavy day is done

A pinecone lies upon the dirt

I kick it gently down the track

There is no clock out in the woods

No reason to be turning back

The trees don't ask me for a word

The air smells rich of pine and earth

I take a long breath through my nose

And remember what a walk is worth

I thought too much inside four walls

Trying to solve what can't be solved

Out here under the leaning trees

My quiet strength has been recalled

The trees don't ask me for a word

The sky is blue between the boughs

I walk along the dirt path now

And leave behind the whys and hows

The path comes out into the lane

The pine trees stay behind my back

My feet are steady, heart is light

As I head down the paved asphalt track

A ginger cat sits on a car

Its paws tucked underneath its chest

It watches me walk slowly by

And shows me how to take a rest

Notice things that don't move fast

The world is quiet on this block

I walk past all the parked sedans

And listen to my quiet clock

The hood is warm from driving home

The cat blinks slowly in the light

I give a little nod and smile

And walk into the peaceful night

Notice things that don't move fast

The engine hums a fading heat

I feel the cold air on my cheeks

And listen to my tapping feet

We try so hard to run the race

To get ahead of every thought

When all we need is right out here

In simple things that can't be bought

Notice things that don't move fast

The street is long and dark and wide

I take another easy step

And leave my heavy thoughts inside

The cat stays sleeping on the hood

I turn the corner soft and slow

My mind is rested, heart is still

And I am ready now to go

I reach the hill and turn around

The neighborhood sits down below

The yellow windows in the dark

All lit up with a gentle glow

The walk back home is always light

My legs know every step to take

I leave the heavy thoughts behind

For my own quiet mind's sake

My breath is even, deep and slow

My coat is unbuttoned at the top

I do not need to run or rush

I do not even need to stop

The walk back home is always light

The streetlamp guides me down the hill

I listen to the night time birds

While all the busy cars are still

The problem sits back on my desk

It didn't disappear today

But I am stronger walking back

And ready for it anyway

The walk back home is always light

The cool air clears away the cloud

I walk past all the garden gates

Far from the rushing and the loud

My front steps rise to meet my boots

I pull the handle of the door

I enter softly, calm and still

And do not worry any more

I take a breath deep through my nose

The sharp winter frost bites sweet

I watch my breath rise in the air

And follow where I place my feet

Clean air makes a tired mind clear

I walk along the brick paved square

I watch the stars come out above

And leave behind my indoor care

The iron fence is slick with ice

I touch the cold metal with my glove

I hear a distant train whistle

And feel the simple night I love

Clean air makes a tired mind clear

The market stalls are dark and closed

I walk past empty wooden carts

Where red apples once reposed

There is a healing in the cold

That burns away the small distress

With every step upon the ground

I need a little bit less

Clean air makes a tired mind clear

The church spire stands against the sky

I walk along with steady pace

And watch the pale moon floating high

I breathe out slowly one last time

Beside my warm and lighted gate

My mind is open, cold and clear

And I am feeling fine and straight

I untie both my walking shoes

And set them by the front door mat

I fill a glass up at the sink

And listen to the sleeping cat

An hour walked has made me sound

The water tastes crisp and clean

I look out through the window pane

At all the places I have been

My coat hangs heavy on the peg

My hands are warm, my face is cool

I take a drink and set it down

No longer playing worry's fool

An hour walked has made me sound

The room is warm, the night is still

I feel my feet resting ground

And let my body take its fill

The walk did not fix everything

My life remains the way it was

But I am steadier tonight

Just like a simple walker does

An hour walked has made me sound

The kitchen lamp gives off its light

I take a slow and easy breath

And welcome in the quiet night

I turn the kitchen light switch off

And head to bed with quiet pace

The walk is done, my mind is calm

And peace is in this simple place