Remembering The Way
Written by Emilee Trudo
I gather my boots
my coat
flashlight
all the essentials
exploration
it’s time
I find the map
study it
what rough terrain
steep mountains
wild waters
the journey ahead
strenuous, but worthy
necessary for survival
and prosperity
I used to not have to take such precautions
when venturing to the depths of my heart
before the wounded soldiers took over
before their dictators mistook my dinner invite
as a real-estate purchase
and moved all their families
and belongings
horses and maids
and nestled right in
before I came to love and care for them
before I taught them
and nurtured them
back to wholeness
before I let myself become so intertwined in their toxicity
fighting a battle for them they didn’t even believe in
offering so much of myself to them
to heal them
raise them up
and all it did was tear me down.
Before all that
it wasn’t so difficult to travel to my heart
So with all my gear
my perseverance
fortitude
I start the trek to my heart
to write her stories
dry her tears
and feel her love.