I am tossing breadcrumbs
Marking my path so I don’t get lost.
This forest is massively huge
Tree after tree, rock after rock.
Following that magical sound,
The only thing on my mind,
I cannot place the source
It is a one-of-a-kind.
I hear it above the birds in the trees
Watching me, singing their own melody.
I hear it above the river’s water
Filled with fish, rushing by next to me.
As I draw closer to the music,
That beautifully tragic song,
Is that a voice I hear?
The musician is singing along!
The deep, sultry voice
Takes me by surprise.
I can almost decipher the words
But the sound dies.
________________________________
I stop dead in my tracks,
Silence so loud its deafening.
My ears strain to hear
Something, anything.
The drive to find that voice
Gives way to tears and fear,
My heart starts racing
As I try to get out of here.
I turn to see my path,
My breadcrumbs on the ground,
And quickly follow the way
Away from the sound.
As I near the edge of the forest
Memories of the music flood in,
The song that broke my heart
And came to a sudden end.
I start to wonder about the voice
And the singer behind,
Another beauty like that
I was sure I could not find.
Were they still there
Waiting for someone to come around?
Were they singing a song
Hoping to finally be found?
_____________________________________
I attempt to stir up courage
By taking a deep breath
While looking, while thinking
Of the forest’s depths,
The song I heard before,
The singer I wish I knew.
How many others have been here?
Who else heard the muse?
Gathering my thoughts
I look down at my trail,
One step, and another
Praying that I do not fail.
_____________________________________
The sound of footsteps echoes
In my ears, in rhythm with my breaths,
My heart is racing, my mind is reeling
With thoughts of failure or death.
The darkness of the forest
Begins to over-power me,
I stop and turn my ears
To hear the voice that sings.
The sound is light and airy
Coming from far away,
I start walking again
Knowing I cannot stay.
Walking again, keeping
My sounds at a low
I hear another person
Making sounds I know.
The other person’s footsteps
Are nearing my own,
I stop making progress
Not wanting to be known.
_____________________________________
I hear the other person
Drawing ever closer to me,
Footsteps I can hear and
A body outline I can see.
I stay as still as I can manage,
The idea of being found
Scares me beyond reason,
And I try not to make a sound.
I want to be alone in my quest.
I want to be the only one.
I want to be alone in my journey.
I have only begun.
