**An excerpt from a may-soon-to-be-novel that lives in my mind, and has for some time.**

Sonatas and binomials
Quadratic Concertos
Scribbled out
handwritten notes
Where's it going?

Beethoven, Bach, Liszt and Brahms
ACT and studying tons
No more guesses, I'm all undone
Where's it going?

Oh Senior year, what's the hurry
I can feel the running time
I swear I'll miss you if you go
running by

Just wait a moment now
just stop and let me see the sky

All my plans and high school dreams
fading into reality
watch it changing
I don't even know
where it's going

To ride a horse when the moon is high,
down the street, to the patriots cry
Oh, how I wish it were I,
with the wind in my face on a midnight ride

To run through the streets with a fist in the air
just trying to right the things so unfair
oh, how I wish I'd been there
with loud cries of 'strike!' ringing through the whole square

To walk through the forest with a bow in my hand
wandering free, at one with the land
Oh, I really do think it'd be grand
to sing with the trees as through them I ran

A racehorse held by the restraining gate
I see the prize I strive to win
Excitement, desire to run the race
But only with your consenting grace
Approving these storms within

Uncertain, timid without a clue
I see the prizes yet cannot choose
Indecision, a falter before the day
Waiting for you to lead the way
To show which goal is true

Trusting, stepping out on the edge
Ready now to take the stand
Leaping into the harrowing abyss
Depending on you to protect in this
And save me when I land