A very lonely, weary traveler
On a journey through a desert
Dry and barren
A rocky, hard and dusty trail
Leads on before and fades behind
Into the lost forever pastAs the sun beats down
And while the icy darkness enfolds
The traveler trudges on
Unaware and unbelieving
That relief will ever come
For this hunger, for this thirst
Enveloping and threatening
To overcome, like the desert sand
Inexorably encroaches and overcomes
The cool, green forest
Swallowing up the traveler's very soulSuddenly, on the horizon
Appears a distant small oasis
Hope
But the traveler, made cynical
By too many false mirages in the past
Hesitates to dare to hope, let alone
Believe
As the coolness and sweet fragrance
Of clear blue water, green grass, trees
Wafts across the desert breeze
To the traveler's broken heartThat oasis, not a vision or mirage
Bids the traveler stop a while
To find refreshment and peaceful rest
In the oasis, in a well of hope
And sweet encouragement
That will send the traveler onward
To the journey's end.
© Dona Lou Pearson
Other poetry by donalou