Thick and careworn, heavy laden

The first blush of youth long gone

Life’s lessons learned hard and so stubborn

From my somber experience, alone.

Sobbing, dragging footsteps through

The clutter of my various trials

Going on strongly all the way this time

And missing it only by miles.

The straining of never, ever giving up

But thoughts keep tearing me away

With aching, drowning memories

From previous miseries of yesterday.

Dead eyes now filled with resignation

And simply wrung with giving in

Compelled to ever journey onward

Though fearful knowing where I’ve been.

A little flame of hope still flickers?

Expel it then, else it just may grow

And persuade me in thinking I still care

If I find a pony from the seeds I sow.

There crouched on the brink of gaping

Still at one more same tomorrow

To be exorcised by determined laughter,

The amulet applied to regulate sorrow.

I battled through seasons of affliction

Withered leaves all fallen slack aground

And the lessons in living have left me gasping

While I’ve endlessly cycled around.

But there in the silence, a low soft tune

And a warmth overwhelming the cold

For a noble of spirit stands forth and he calls

In his beautiful language of old.

With golden cords of freedom I’m bound

Though far on the ramparts I roam

Refined and inspired by sweet ties of love

Bringing me, singing me home.