Shoes are optional

No one stands guard

No entry fee or protocol

you you You arrive

Ask: is this my home?

Is this the beginning of the journey—My Journey

—Is it The End?

Not much on offer in view

Many before you have crossed

Limestone is reliable shelter

You could enter settle stay

While you contemplate others’ bones sink deeper

These walls are reinforced by thousands

who arrived hesitated undecided lived died calcified

Are you hungry?

Is imagination driving you forward or rendering you static?

Is your heart—

you remembered to bring it, yes?

Is your heartbeat a barely detectable murmur or a drumline of thunder?

What are the lyrics to Your Song

or have you not yet written them in invisible ink upon Your Skin?

You willed yourself here

Look around

You are alone but for birdsong wind green leaves clay and stone

bteatne

Repeat

It means nothing

Inhale now stretch clench your jaw close your eyes

Howl until all breath is spent

Then step one foot in front of the other as though

you know Your Intention acknowledge it

as You Walk with confidence toward The Light

Time is fading and despite appearances The Journey is long

rife with tricksters detours delays poor signage distractions

Your purpose is not singular

Your path is not direct

and Life is positively short.