Off the grid

Several Midwestern cities are gridded. How else would we know which direction we're going? Or even where we've come from? I did live in Boston for a couple years. There they speak of streets being old cow paths. The main streets are unlabeled. If you belong there... you know what they are. I grew up on the grid. I am learning to make my own grid, reorienting myself by the sun.

I grew up

On the grid.

Streets were oriented

North and South,

East and West.

North South streets were named

In alphabetical order.

When the alphabet ended,

It began again.

East and west

Were numbered.

For numbered streets

There is no end.

Now I live on a one block lane

With curves.

I am forever getting mixed up.

I reorient myself daily

By the sun.

In truth

I have been off the grid

For years.

Now

The alphabet has way more

Than twenty six letters.

Now

I have completely lost faith

In numbers.

I am gridless.

I reorient daily

By the sun.