SHORT WALK/LONG JOURNEY

Paper thin, pale skin begins
to crepe like dry moth wings -
unable to carry any longer
the heavy loads
of heartbeat and breathe.

Clouded eyes blink and struggle
to focus for a minute -
a sharp exhale rushes out
and meets the shaky rise
from a large armchair.

Feet shuffle across a bare
wooden floor, making their way
along a familiar path
to lay this broken body down
and rest in a soft pine needle nest.

Home.
At last.