Pilgrim Love

Stumble of sleep, no shoes, waning moon blurred by fog.

First dog already past the neighbor's, heading for the field. Second dog scratching near the stairs.

Dew.

Walk slowly, hands folded. Thought is effluence, air, so what?

Prayer.

Cloud scree, orange heat, shards of cloud, a pine tree. "My old friend anger" not so old. Water and the spirit are where?

There goes my heart, barreling into the forest.

Pilgrim love, refugee attentiveness.

A white rock, a shivering fern, a rooster caw. Heart-shaped prints of deer where they cross the road hungry.

Fear of hunger. The messenger named bile. Look up.

Turn back.

Morning lilac, no peace. Clear moon clean and bright, there.