The Trail

Darkening, we walk -
Over unforgiving rocks -
Across the alpine.

You trudge on ahead,
While I stumble behind
Unafraid; as I,

Every once in a while,
See a firefly
Turn and shed its light
To check on me,
And I, in happy fatigue,
Nod.


All I can think of
Is that stupid little café,
And the silly conversation
That led us, perhaps,
To think it a good idea
To show the other person
An arid plot,
A tiny space in our hearts
Where the other might
Find a place;
Whence we decided
To sublimate
Nature's gruff machination -
Into a profound mess called love.