Solitude

You feel alone And can’t sleep Another hour passes Finally your close your eyes Dreaming of a place you’ve never been At first you feel free Arms swinging at your sides Like a kid playing hooky from school Just ahead is a Worn path A meadow is on your left Fenced all the way To where the land meets the sky On your right is a forest Dark green Impenetrable Quiet, not a living thing around An unexpected breeze Brings a sudden chill But you walk on. You walk and walk Until it becomes dark The road Becomes hard You trip And curse the darkness. Overhead, now is a cold Uncaring moon Yet you begin to sweat Feeling it run down your back You’d gladly give your soul To catch a glimpse of something familiar You really don’t know where you are In the night what was once ordinary Is now strange Disoriented you finally realize That you’re lost. You feel as though your heart will explode from your chest An inner voice begs that the dream stop Slowly you awake To the sound of rhythmic breathing Someone is near you A sense of relief Envelopes you In a warm cocoon Of blanket, pillow and bed Taking a deep breathe You are grateful Not to be alone.