The streets between my veins
are littered with dead ends.
Strangers constantly
lose their way,
get turned around,
forget where their journey began,
where it is meant to end;
I know of what I speak,
always a stranger to myself,
even in those hours when silence
is my only companion,
only gaining a vague familiarity
when my scuffed shoes
splash in freshly-spilled blood,
creating a trail I can return to
when I reach the conclusion
of another night.
Edward Lee's poetry, short stories, non-fiction and photography have been published in magazines in Ireland, England and America, including The Stinging Fly, Skylight 47, Acumen and Smiths Knoll. His debut poetry collection "Playing Poohsticks On Ha'Penny Bridge" was published in 2010. He is currently working towards a second collection.
He also makes musical noise under the names Ayahuasca Collective, Lewis Milne, Orson Carroll, Blinded Architect, Lego Figures Fighting, and Pale Blond Boy.
His blog/website can be found at https://edwardmlee.wordpress.com