by ellen gilbert.....
There’s nobility in a life spent alone
With all my possession in tact on my back.
On my back in tact my vital possessions
And before me a rocky and vagabond road
The vagabond walking the road to unknown
Sustained by the sun and the quiet
The quiet sun on my back and the smooth road I follow
Strange yet familiar between petroglyph walls
Holy petroglyphs line this spiritual passage
I walk head erect with eyes downcast
Erect head and soft eyes in the presence of God
Death Valley in spring is alive and in bloom
Alive and in bloom I am walking this road
There’s nobility in a life spent alone.
ALMOST
The truth is, I’m still almost hopeless.
What do I do about my disgust?
Always, but never angry
Still hopeful, frequently depressed.
I close my eyes to what may be
Eyes open in this moment
To the pleasure of small gifts
Not looking at what lies ahead.
The truth is, I’m still almost sure
That the world as we know it
This U.S. that we know
Is changed forever.
— by ellen gilbert