Looking for Answers

Looking for Answers
Between the pages.
I should have written neater notes
And paid attention
When they were telling us.
All I can see
In place of charts and graphs
Are scribbles of
Words and stick figures,
Giants and dragons,
And other fantasies of
Terrible adventure
That we all want to be heroes of.

And now when the time has come
To look for answers,
That I know they told us,
I'm left with a notebook
With pen stains and blots on paper
That I can't take back.
And now when the time has come
To look for answers,
About the vastness of the world
And the smallness of us all
I'm left with my heroes
That win over demons
Only in my head.
And now that the time has come
To find the answers,
To know my place
To find my way safely,
I'm left with
Nothing but paper
That could barely burn
To glow
Or warm
And last.