The Traveler

A dusty road the traveler walked,

with desert at both sides.

To himself the traveler talked,

and to himself he sighed.

He dared not cross the desert wide,

though ne'er would his road end,

for if he left the trail aside,

for himself he'd have to fend.

As far above the red sun blazed,

long nights brought great despair.

And come the morn, the traveler, dazed,

of strange sounds became aware.

At desert's edge a child danced

and sang up to the sky.

When at the boy, the traveler glanced,

he ran and called, "Good-bye!"

The traveler stood and followed him,

the road left far behind.

And as the day began to dim,

the traveler was blind.

Down a ditch he nearly dropped

and a snake just missed a bite.

Alone and lost, the traveler wept,

in the dark without his sight.

And when the morning finally came,

the traveler pushed ahead.

Though while he wished to turn in shame,

he chased the child fled.

He thought he saw him once again,

dancing in the distance far.

The traveler ran to catch him then,

and took him by the arm.

The boy then wept aloud and shook;

his eyes bore guilt from many wrongs.

The traveler asked him, "Now, you look--

why have I chased you and your songs?"

"You followed, yes," the boy did say,

"but at a horrid cost.

I led you 'long my lonely way,

yet now we both are lost."

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End Note: I don't write poetry, ever. This was done on a whim and in complete boredom, and because I'd had the idea in my head for a while... I know the rhythm is off and it's a little strange, but hey.... I'm used to prose...