The Path

The fog begins to lift
He walks the trail
Knowing her general direction at departure
Toward the river

He follows at a moderate pace
Aware of the dangers of the trail
Knows where it leads
Into the dark lands

He assumes she will rest at rivers edge
And they will meet and talk
But as he reaches the last turn of the path
He smells smoke

Running over the rise
He sees the bridge burning
Her figure receding
On the other side
Into darkness

Already too far to hear his voice
A tear falls from his right eye

He bends and picks up a small object from her path
“Sad to see a burning bridge”, he says
As he drops the empty matchbook.

He turns and walks more slowly
Along the path with its dangers
The path is different now,
Yet still leading to safety
To his fortress.