Of all the weary restless listeners
She stood out the most
Her eyes alight with blaze of thought
Her body sunk from forgotten sleep
She stood to say - I'm alright
I wouldn't argue with her

I've had my share of sleeplessness
The kind when you're alone
My eyes were black and bagged
And often I fell to twilight
Not yet sleep; not quite aware
She awoke me from my state
The world a bright and brilliant thing

The inn in which we stayed was kind
But offered us no respite
Comfort tames not the fervored mind
She knew as well as I
We sat and spoke
Across the room
No use for words or hands

A wonderful woman she truly was
A strong and weathered one
Her cheeks told me of winds they'd fought
Her nose of frostbit summers
She smiled at me
We had surely found each other

I had left in search of something
Never figuring the objects name
Upturned rocks and drunken talks
No rewards were received
By midnights edge I had always left
Aloft
To chase my goals
My maddening maddened goals

Today I had found the moment
That was worthy of my death
She stared at me
I stared at her
Ember caught in twirling wind amid a forest made from bone
I stood
She strode
We met
Hands clasped

I died that day and so did she
From he and I to we
I'd panned creeks, duh sites, fought bears of men
But collapsed in bed
At a simple inn
Is where's my treasure lies