SHORT WALK/LONG JOURNEY / V2.0

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
as I struggle to stand.

Feet shuffle across a forest floor,
making their way
to lay this broken body down
and rest in a soft pine needle nest.

At last I find my placecard
for the eternal feast.
UNKNOWN.

Poem inspired by photograph taken by and used with permission of Christine Valters Paintner (www.abbeyofthearts.com)