[IrishGrrl]

I walked so long and so far
I walked the line
leaving bloody footprints of my past.
I walked from south to north
West to East
I never have done things the "right" way.

Only scrub lands and desert
an occasional succulent plant to sustain me
No rain, no relief, no joy

My compass broke long ago
along with my heart
Nothing to guide me
Even the stars were un aligned

I tried to follow the sun
only to be burned time and again
I tried to salve my wounds
to no avail
A reminder of the errors of my longing

I was ready to give up
lay down and accept my fate
Let the land decide my future
I had almost nothing left

Laying on the hard cracked ground
a wind stirred
a wiff of cool breeze
and the smell of fresh water

Raising my head for the last time
I wondered
what cruel trick was being played
what fresh hell was being shown

Laughing out loud I decided
get up and follow
at least see this last day through
I have nothing left to lose

Ahead of me a mirage
the smell of cool air
tropical foliage
and new grass.

Sounds of rushing water
birds chirping
and suddenly..
the beat of my heart
rising through the long silence.

Even when I reached the edge
I doubted
my eyes, my heart, my mind
everything laid before me.

Still I knelt.
Raised a handful of water to my lips
tasted the cool wetness
let it run down my chin.

Still I did not believe.

Slowly I walked forward
smelling sweet fruit from a healthy tree.
I was afraid to pull it from the branch,
looking around to make sure no one saw.

I took a tenative bite.
And then another.
Finally, the biggest bite I could manage.

It was grainy
sweet and juicy.
Filled with the taste
of honey, apples, and something I could not name.

I lay in the grass
the cool shade
and finally..

I believed.