The Trek

This morning I began a trek,
Many people were there to see me off.
Some, those closest to me,
Walked with me for a while.
They warned me of hazards,
And unsafe paths.
As the day wore on,
They began to fall behind.
A few steps at first,
Then farther,
And even farther still.
Soon, I could not hear their voices,
Yet I was not alone.
Others, people I did not know, journeyed also.
As we walked,
I spoke to a few, nodded at others, and ignored most.
No one seemed to be headed quite for my destination.
Faces would change at each intersection along the path.
I wondered at the numbers I saw,
Where are they from?
Where are they going?
Why do the travel?
I then thought about my own travels,
Why bother, I wondered?
To see the unknown, my mind replied,
To learn about the world.
So as I walked,
I payed close attention to what I saw.
As the day's images passed in front of me,
I grew confused.
I did not comprhend what I saw.
I began to feel angry.
"The world is toying with me!" I cried out,
"I see such wonderful beauty,"
"But too often it is obscured by misery."
I thought, for a short while, not to look at anything.
With my eyes shut, I saw nothing to displease me.
But the need to see beauty was unbearable,
And I decided to look just long enough to see something joyful.
I saw flowers.
I saw children.
I began to feel better,
Yet I knew a horror was around the next corner,
And I knew that if I did not go to confront it,
It would come to me.
So I continued,
And I survived.
And the cycle repeated itself,
Again,
And again.
Now it is late,
And I am tired.
So I close my eyes,
And my day is finished.
I can smile, and say,
"Goodnight."
And mean it.

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