How many mountains so we have to climb
to finally feel worthy of a little bit of time to unwind?
How many victories require a tax?
How many little breaks ended up bringing us back?
How often does a good life moment have some heavy fine print?
How do the happiest times turn to shit?
How does a celebration end up a challenge?
How do emo songs at midnight once again become valid?
How does paradise come with a catch?
How are we to face this? How are we to act?
How many little tricks does life like to play, and what do we make of it all, anyway?
– RSM
The Corners That We’ve Turned
We don’t often realize how sharp, nor round
were the corners that we’ve turned,
such feats, so unfound.
It’s only when we glance in the rearview mirror
that we see the long road behind us – then it becomes clearer.
The beaten pavement, faded, lined with trees
weave a long, winding set of all of our memories
that we forget to recall, like when friends became enemies
or that scene in Finding Nemo where he can’t say ‘anemone.’
We’re caught up in the present, racing against some kind of clock,
hugging that highway divider wall, but it’ll bring you to a stop
when you look back at the journey that brought you to this moment –
our lives have been our own path to create
as we find our true selves in each curve of the road, and
we don’t know much more about the way going forward,
but, slowing down, and looking back, provides a renewed focus.
You don’t often realize how sharp, nor round
were the corners that you’ve turned,
until you look back
at the map that you’ve crafted, so detailed, hand-drawn,
a trajectory travelled from our first few notes until the end of our very last song.
We’re so busy trying to hit the right notes that we forget to sing our own praises,
so smile back at the road behind you, no matter how beaten, no matter how faded. – RSM
