trudging further into dark wood,
    far off the beaten track,
shrinking deeper beneath this hood,
    purposeless to turn back.

no bread crumbs, for they can't follow,
    I can't make any room,
in this; my dark lonely hollow,
    solitude; set in gloom

I'll befriend a woodland creature,
    like a badger or a shrew,
but my forest cannot feature;
    a true friendship with you

we could try to do some hiking,
    or camp under the stars,
yet I know these trees arent your liking,
    thick trunks will turn to bars

memories flickering, fading,
    endless ocean waiting, wading,
closest kin and our best lived days,
    lost now; in this minds murky maze

love-shared moments felt together,
    all drift away; with no tether,
currents carry away from shore,
    landless horizon forever more

pitiful buoy thrown overboard,
    to accept presents false reward,
siren-like; drag you down with me,
    engulfing all; this deep, blue sea

up the mountain with a tremble,
    no plan or gear or hope,
Sisyphus I must resemble,
    endless clamber; tedious trope.

no longer; I recall the base,
    the grass; the trees; the glades,
as I ascend; with unkept pace,
    the path behind me fades.

looming blizzard lingers behind,
   (it) taunts blowing in today,
upward; disheveled, lost and blind,
    no guides to lead the way.

forced to muster a clumsy strut,
     advancing; though I'm weak,
uncertain of journeys end; but,
    certain there is no peak.

footprints lie; not the first,
    bound to this torrid thirst,
desperate to be quenched,
    though heath and meadow drenched.

knelt; cupping at puddles,
   the clumsy hand muddles,
disturbs the dirt and then,
    tainted water; once again.

full moon appears at night,
    reveals fate in its light,
beg the tides "refresh my cup",
    answered prayer. still looking up.