a careful step
and then two
became a run
before I knew
where i'd go
or for how long
the pavement sound
turned to song
beautiful
i listened close
followed the road
I wanted most
after a while
I hit my stride
settled on
an easy glide
there I stayed
for miles and miles
and realized
after a while
I wasn't running
just for fun
but to complete
what i'd begun
then the pace
began to hurt
the journey changed
from joy to work
the hills were steep
the sun grew hot
why i'd started
long forgot
still i resolved
to finish strong
and justify
going so long
convinced that going
all the way home
would make ammends
for being gone
but years and years
of bitter days
showed me that
i'd lost my way
the more I ran
the worse it got
slowly I
began to stop
at first I felt
like i had failed
lost the race
not finished well
but life is not
a race or game
no award for
ignoring pain
and as I stood
lost as can be
slowly I
began to see
the nuomenon
of my trip
distinct from where
I ended it
the miles I made
the steps I took
were the pages
of my book
the pain of coming
to it's end
commensurate
to what was penned