the perilous path

 
fated to pain  
that it should be the colors I create with  
  
I pick up the charcoals  
then draw a straight line  
to where I've been  
and to where i'm going  
  
it's a short path
without stops along the way  
  
I muse within myself  
how much wealthier I am  
for the souls I've encountered  
  
some who lent me peace  
others strength  
still others who I left gems of my own  
so they might be richer  
  
then with color  
I fill in areas of my journey  
it's bright with faces, zigs and zags  
  
a lot of waiting for people to arrive  
  
bringers of rope  
so I might scale down the mountainside  
to reach the one in the valley  
waiting on my visit  
  
there has been coming. going  
and charcoal colored pain  
  
the shortest path  
wasn't the one I chose  
so I better be on my way