Sustained, close together
They walk down the road on bare feet
Bare feet that wish to run like children again,
Turned frail by the power of age
I have seen them walking to
And withdrawing from,
As they acknowledge the missteps they've made
I have seen them walking
Over shed leaves and enervated roots
I have seen them walking,
Over roses planted where weeds grew
I have seen them walking,
Under appreciated sunsets and anticipated sunrises
I have seen them walking,
Under birds that soar too high, and worms that dig too deep
I have seen them walking,
Over planted seeds, planted from desire
I have seen them walking,
Under denuded trees, denuded from fire
I have seen them walking,
Leaving remedial footprints
on the strange terrain
That lies between
vitality and apathy
I have seen them walking,
all very differently,
but all in need of relief
Relief which will make the walking seem less grief