Poetry 145: Dear Voyager

“The untold want, by life and land ne'er granted,

Now, Voyager, sail thou forth, to seek and find.” 

~Walt Whitman, Leaves of Grass 

Dear Voyager

Dear Voyager,
here is your

quest.

It will begin

with birth,
and will end
with death.

The goal,

is to leave
this sliver of
the universe
a little better
than you found it.

At the gate,

you, the Seeker,
will receive
four tools
to assist you
on your journey.

A body

to move in.

A mind

to think in.

A heart

to feel in.

And a soul

to intuit through.

Likewise, you will

receive guides
along the Way
who will
offer their love 
for free.

You must, however,
use a critical eye, 

for the Monsters
are easily confused
for the helpers.

(They all look
the same you know.)

While you travel,

you will be required
to care for others 
along the Way-
even carry them
at times.

Fear not,
this will not

take away from
your endeavor.

In fact,

it is the others
who will sustain 
this quest 
with an infusion 
of purpose.

Yet, you should know,
there will be

moments of
sheer, exhaustible
pain.
Loss.
Heartache.
And confusion.

Thoughtfully handled,
these moments
will make you
stronger. Wiser.
Mishandled, they
will be your
kryptonite.

You will spend weeks,

months,
and even years
lost in the wilderness.

Those will be very

dark times.

And when

the path
reveals itself again,
it will feel like a miracle.

But remember,

you will not
be alone
in this pursuit.

I will be

with you
every step
of the Way.

Though I will not

interfere. Or comment.
I will not judge,
or assist,
my presence
will be felt,
if you care to,
every time you
pause for
one full breath.

Long enough to

remember
from whence you came,
and to where you will
return.

At the end, it

will feel like the
beginning.
And when you
return, you will
take nothing
with you
whatsoever.

All you will

leave, is
footprints.

-Me