He will rise again
from the depths of his burden.
He will start over
in the chase for his dreams.
The boy will rise once more
and become the man
he sought to be.
His laughter will overtake tears,
his courage will chase away fear.
He'll start a true family
and own a great career.
No more will evil plague him,
no longer
shall he torment his soul.
Or so,
that's what he told us.
In a small town
when fall was near.
We were sitting in a diner booth-
He was sitting
on a neat little stool,
sporting a black raven tattoo
as he replayed tales
no man could tell better.
He talked of hopes
and of dreams.
He spoke of missed opportunities.
He said,
"You don't always notice
the open doors...
just the open road in-front of you:
gambling,
drinking,
it's all right there.
But a door...
A door can take you anywhere."
And that day he made a vow,
a vow that he spoke from his heart;
He would some day rise again,
and become that door taking,
great young man.

Years later,
I returned
to that same, little town
and I stopped
at that same, small diner.
Near me sat an old man,
on a neat little stool;
so nicely was he dressed
and sporting a black raven tattoo.
He let out a grave laugh
for a young girl upon his knee.
He looked at me and grinned,
"This is my Grand-baby,
isn't she a beauty?"