The trail went on
through the wood.
Meandering, rising, dipping, straightening,
I followed best I could.
Birds, beasts, and trees,
they all came out to greet me.
I smiled and I waved,
and onward I tread.
Up and over mountain peaks,
the end of the trail I did seek.
People came and people went,
my feet trudged on, hellbent.
The rain fell and winds blew,
and yet, a friend was always near.
My mourning turned to joy,
when we faced the trail together.
The trail went on
across many a river and stream.
My feet hardened and skin chafed,
but I did not lose steam.
I failed.
I cried.
I laughed.
I sighed.
The trail went on
through forest thick and valley wide.
It felt like home
the more I hit my stride.
Strangers became friends
along that dusty road.
Funny thing is
it was like we’d known each other all along.
When times were desperate
help appeared.
An angel disguised in human form
showed up with a ride, a snack, maybe even a beer.
The miles I forced,
the wearier I became.
But the more I sat, conversed,
the more I changed.
The trail went on,
and I forgot.
What had I come here for?
A quest? A plot?
The end finally came
after months of aching steps.
But what did I remember?
My why? My goal?
Every face.
Every name.
Came flooding back
to center frame.
The nights telling stories.
The meals shared in town.
The songs we sang.
That’s what mattered now.
I didn’t know why I started.
I didn’t care.
Because along the way,
I found I was meant to share.
The trail went on
meandering, rising, dipping, straightening.
But this time I followed
hastening.
– Ralston Drake
Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed it as much as I loved experiencing it and sharing it. Be sure to subscribe for free below to be sure you get a notification whenever I post a new article. Thank you again! I hope your next adventure is one to write about some day too!
Wandering with Ralston 
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