vacancy

there is another
road
out of this town I ask
the stranger
standing on the side of the road
with his tin
cup. he looks like
he's been in a fire.
ashen
and streaked with dirt
and mud.
I've taken a wrong turn
and can't find
my way back.
he looks at me
and smiles.
once here, you cant get
out he says.
the road you took to get
here,
ends here.
welcome home.
this is my corner, but you
can have
the one across the street,
that's been vacant now
for some time now.