the road we built
thru thick and storm
to tame the wild
carving an impossible path
taking an impossible oath
to prove ourselves
with force of nature
to find and farm
and make our own
a place to live
in this forest of souls
a road neglected
returns to wild
the wild within
the wild without

my hand did rest a moment
on a single tree that spoke
of the inevitability of life
and movement deep within
and more of roots and light
and its own proud strength
that connects and persists
i listened as it spoke of
the wild within
the wild without

an alpine meadow
the chosen field of battle
i stand my ground
surrounded by giants
who challenge me
show us your strength
stand as we
as strong
though cut and burned
and cold and stormed
growing patiently
knowing inevitably
we live on
the wild within
the wild without

now seated by a fire
with life and love
raising smooth glass
to clean lips
sipping of cool whiskey
speaking of tender belief
with smokey eyes
blurred by smoke of fires
still cooling
and hidden tears
from fires that burned
clean thru and ended
the longest winter
i have ever known
distilled and refined
conquered now mastered
my mind wanders off again
to wild places yet unseen
the wild within
the wild without