Sidewalk of Life

When life slows down its racing, I look outside,

Remember clouds and trees and words unreplied,

I leave the worlds I make for roads many ride,

But stick to walkways, where you'll keep pace beside.

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You walk beside me and we take the world in,

Speak of what's new, and always of what has been,

Since we share love for how great history unfolds,

And you know so much more than I've ever been told.

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I'll walk in your footsteps, and you'll wait for mine,

For now I'm aspiring and still left behind,

But I'll follow your footsteps to find where I'll be,

And you'll smile when you have to catch up with me.

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I dream of books of what was and cannot be,

I dream of worlds I'll make real for all to see,

But writing, not dreaming, will make my worlds whole,

And though I try, I'm still so far from my goal.

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You walk beside me when you sit in your chair,

Ready your tools to write and take yourself there,

I marvel each day at the hours that you spend,

And resolve to discover the same path you wend.

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I'll walk in your footsteps, and you'll wait for mine,

For now I'm aspiring and still left behind,

But I'll follow your footsteps to find where I'll be,

And you'll smile when you have to catch up with me.

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I cry when I feel lost, as I have before,

Say you can't know of all the horrors I bore,

Feel trapped by what once was and now seems a trial,

But you bear with me and believe all the while.

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You walk beside me when I stumble or tire,

And slow your striding to raise my spirits higher,

Whenever you slow down, I try waiting, too,

Though I never get over how soon you're like new.

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I'll walk in your footsteps, and you'll wait for mine,

For now I'm aspiring and still left behind,

But I'll follow your footsteps to find where I'll be,

And you'll smile when you have to catch up with me.

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I'll walk in your footsteps, and you'll wait for mine,

You've changed simple walking into something fine,

A roadmap of footsteps is my guarantee,

That you'll smile when you have to catch up with me.