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It’s a difficult thing
Walking detached from a person
I’ve worn in my body
He’s choosing a different path
I can see him from here
Each crag that traps him
Each branch clawing at his neck
I holler warning
Stay on the trail head!
Look to the mountain top!
He can’t hear me
He’s forging his path
I tear along my narrow trail
Trying to keep up
He winds close sometimes
Waves with a laugh and a smile
I lean toward him into the brush
I lift a hand in reply, grit-grinning back
So he knows I’m rooting for him
I squint against the trail ahead
Searching for places to converge
I try not to stop and cry
Grieving our differences
I try not to wish and wonder
how to hop over to his trail
I want to clear his path
But it’s not mine to clear
I want to walk him home
But I already am in my way
In the way he will let me
I want so much more for him
But what else can I offer but a mountain to climb?
So I stumble along breathing prayer
Crying help for unbelief that is mostly mine
Watching for the mountain top
Praying for that high-five finish together
A respite looking back at the trails
The separate twists and turns that somehow
Will bring us back together
realizing they made both of us
who we were meant to be
Until then, keep walking, Momma.

suelarkinsweems ’14