This Man I knew Once

I knew this man once
whose thirst for meaning
not meaning of life
but . . .
he was starved for meaning of him
though an urbanite
he dwelled in the wasteland
he could be soft-spoken
turn himself inside out
be dangerous as they came
this man I knew once
searched for a princess disgraced
answered to no one
held communion
for the lost and forlorn
unlike Johnny Appleseed
this man was made of dread motifs
treachery within his chest
lies upon his name
he challenged the world
with enormous rage
still, he had
fondness for puppies
and when he came upon them
he was a tow-headed child again
this man I knew once
jaundiced and callous
continued swimming counter to the current
finding lovers
to forsake
as he wandered o'er the land
like the fictitious Johnny Appleseed
he left his seed
and, as did Johnny's, his bore fruit
for forty years, plus
this man I knew once
took a strong look at himself one day
understood what his life was about
he peered into himself
realizing it had all been for naught
so this man I knew once
stopped playing martyr
this man I knew once
could not erase the bad he'd sewn
even so this man I knew once
is fortunate
into his life miracles have been born
and for this
and so much more
this man I knew once
can smile at what's ahead