A Journey Meeting Fate

His journey seemed endless, as he wiped away the beads of sweat from his forehead.
He squeezed the last drops of water from a moistened cloth, his lips parched from the sun.
Feet sore and bleeding, he continued onward through the night, until he could walk no more,
upon the grass near a tree, he made his bed, for now this day done.

The darkness that had fallen around him, left him wondering how long more it would be,
before he reached his destination, setting out to reach the sea.
His eyes closed, and he fell into a world of dreams, standing upon the cliff as tides rolled in,
where the mist kissed upon his face, and he could taste the salty air, and the horizon stretched into infinity.

The hot sun settling upon the flesh of his bare chest woke him to the day.
He took off his worn boots and wrapped them in clean cloths from his bag he had brought,
and grabbed a branch from a tree to assist in the walk, and not far ahead, a cool creek with rushing water,
eagerly drinking to quench his thirst, imagining not far ahead, he'd find the life he sought.

A hand came upon his shoulder, and he turned to see a woman standing there.
She spoke no words, but the offerings of a meal, and soft mossy seat at her side.
He looked around in wonderment of where she came from, the land and air of quiet music.
Then she dressed his injured feet, some form of plant calming pain, and the blood dried.

Soft handmade leather, comforted his stance, she pointed him in the direction of the sun.
He turned back to see where she was going, but she was already disappearing into the forest green.
He was thankful for her, and he wished he could somehow repay, and he continued on his way,
still following alongside the creek, and shortly ahead, a partial view, his dreamy scene.

He reached the rocky shoreline, and it was just as he envisioned, magnificent beauty,
and he stepped softly upon the sand, the gentle kiss of mist upon the air,
but somehow, something seemed missing from this wonderful wide open space,
perhaps a bit of loneliness, he wanted more than this to which he had traveled so far to get there.

He thought of her gentleness, a comfort upon her eyes, he longed to touch,
looking back toward the trees to which he had emerged from, wondering what he should do.
He watched as the sun slowly moved across the sky, and clouds softened the glow,
and he headed back into the direction toward this lady fair he felt could be true.

He followed back along the creek, lined with trees, and fragrance of wildflowers,
he didn't think fully through, but his heart did not hesitate.
She was sitting upon the mossy green,
as though she'd known of his return, and perhaps a love unfolding, a journey meeting fate.