The Journey Begins

I can feel the wind in my hair
Not the cold, unforgiving driving breeze
That has blown around me for so long
But a warm, gentle flow pushing me onwards

Down from my mountains I've come
Into the warm, sunlit corridors of the world
Back into the centers of population
Where people have come and gathered

Much as it was when I left for my mountains
Amongst these individuals I do not belong
For my current path is not to stop here
But rather leading me through them, onward

Despite the harsh words I hear from some
Including those that I thought I had known
I continue to move forward through the crowd
Heading towards the other side of their town

I ignore the insults that ring into my ears
I pretend not to see the challenges for violence
Laid naked before me by those who have no honor
They don't understand nor could they

One foot after the other I walk my own pace
No faster, no slower
Not allowing others to dictate my pace or direction
For this is my own journey to walk, they have their own

Reaching the edge of town, I feel an urge to stop
To turn and look back down the trail I have walked
To look back at a village of people who have hated me
For no other reason other than I am still alive

But I do not stop, I cannot stop, my journey moves me onward
And yet I feel a strong sadness in my heart
A stream of tears fall from my eyes
I want to turn around, just for one last look

...I will miss my snow-covered mountains