the things he was running from
were the very first things he packed
and the things he was running toward
were always distant and obscure
but still he ran and ran
until one day, he didn't
one day he stopped
and he fell stagnant
and he died
a living death

and so he ran again

his sun rose when she opened her eyes
dispelling at last his years of dark night
bringing bright light back into his life

she smiles, his heart sings

her laughter sends his mind dancing
a contagious lightness in her glance
a quiet regality in her stance

his light

a distant memory
haunts his day dreams
a time when he was young
and learning

a time when he
caused a lizard pain
as he was chasing it
through the small canyon
that was his backyard

although it was unintentional
that poor creature died
and he'll never forgive himself

but he can't feel high and mighty

he eats three pounds of feedlot beef
every single week
and never blinks an eye

he needs to work on that