My Longest Walk
We are here not to be easy—
but to become our better angels—slowly
while confined within time’s penitentiary
of hard space—with too few dimensions
bound into arduous labors of conformity
I grind onward—honing my mindfulness
so that I can cut through every bar of fear
I used to wake to my dark mirrored oracle
a loud—vulgar—self-absorbed dictator
injecting its fake news and social media
into my hardening arteries of anxiety
using words or memes that only helped
me decide daily stuff to be angry about
But as my body started to deteriorate
hard hearts of AI offered scarce solace
now—I count every transitory moment
that ignites my faith with light and fire
every memory mined from aged amber
every fleeting breath—every heartbeat
every irregular pulse—as a blessing
My early morning light now wakes—
to the melodic songs of meadowlarks
melting my anticipating heart and mind
into the recollections of my childhood
home to many free-ranging adventures
that focused me fearless on the future
My days—they still scatter their debris
into tall heaps of unfinished drudgeries
but now—every perishable second is a
needful reminder of all my successes
turning a life of often forgotten walks
into beautiful—inspiring paths of hope
My evenings settle into the settings
of another vibrant crimson sunset
painting my green mountain valley
in ineffable shades of divine pigment
reflecting paradise across sleepy skies
with graceful winds—easing my spirit
In my late nights—I pray for lights
lost in midnight throngs of discord
for in this shadow realm—even fireflies
are dying in our viscous inks of pride
so—I dream of a strong repurposed me
that can brandish its sparks of energy
—filling lonelier voids with bright stars
In all my labors—I lastly discovered
the long—strenuous miles of my life
are never as meaningful as its depths
or soft breadths of a purposeful walk
ascending peaks to touch God’s peace
then descending in songs of gratitude
such treks labored to inspire my joys
of a kinder service and friendly heart
