we set off
–
fearless
travelers in tireless pursuit
aware
of the perils lurking
on the periphery
–
baren satchel
bereft of utility
endowed with promise
–
handful of possibility
a crumb
of opportunity
–
making camp
where others fear
to tread lightly
into the fangs and
furnace lit
to bar our path
–
coated in
ash anguish trickling
down furrowed brows
salt rich
perspiration eliciting
wince inducing
stinging
pyretic needles
searing
wide eyes closed
–
gritting our teeth
creaking
grinding
whining
cracking
sickly audible
in our skulls ever present
fear
that our heads will
explode
–
sojourn in polite society
a brief moment among you
til the breeze calls
and like pollen
carried off
to new fields