The Extra Mile

It’s been so long, so far along
I doubt I ever cried
I walk a mile, all done in style
And wonder what I haven’t tried.

All deeds are done, all veils undone
And the moon is out and bright
I walk a mile, and bask awhile
In vital visions of fey delight.

I feel so wise, the dead might rise
To learn a trick or two
I walk a mile, so lost in smiles
I strike a sudden rendezvous.

The moon departs, I give a start
And the night turns all a shadow
I stop in shock, my reverie rocked
And stare at a girl I hardly know.

She tells a tale, to no avail
For I know not of her pain
I feel her cry, risk a try
And ask her to come again.

“I pity my ways”, she quickly says
And attempts to force a smile
Decent try, but then it is I—
The veteran of many a mile.

I ask her for more, my tricks afore
And all she shows is a flake
She thinks too much, that’s all as such,
She says and smiles in wake.

There’s more to go, too well I know
But I see no way to slither through
And all done and said, I find instead
That’s not what I really wish to do.

A fly hums by, a shade too nigh
And I flinch at once to verve
A fork in sight, I work the right
And steel a shaky nerve.

In muted words, barely heard
I ask her for a walk ahead
“Well, okay… let’s start away…”
And there she goes in stead.

“A second please, I’ll have to cease
For that’s not what I had in mind
The other way, that’s okay
I wonder if you could file behind.”

She looks at me, and in moments we
Are on the trail she chose
It’s really strange, all full of change
And I can’t help but follow close.

Shadows shift, I pick a rift
And the moon peeks out with glee
I smile again, then feel the pain
For the light’s now burning me.

Soon enough, it gets too rough
And all in view is set ablaze
I try to speak, but feel too weak
And slump ahead in a daze.

She walks along, none too strong
But it seems she knows her way
I stagger, falter, and follow her
The night now more a raging day.

Thunder sounds, my hopes abound
As the gods arrive to hear my cries
The promise thrills, the future kills
As venom pours from broken skies.

The pain gets worse, I reel and curse
But the girl takes scarce a heed
She walks a mile, and all awhile
She hears no stumbling deed.

“This way’s too long, too far along
I wish we had taken the other road…”
“Oh, I’m sorry, but don’t you worry…”
A word of faith as miseries load.

The stinging rain, the burning pain
It’s a vision I daren’t desire
The things I loved, are all but shoved
Into a scheme of scathing fire.

Just as I fall, stripped of gall
The endless path does conclude
I squirm and squeal, a wasted deal
My ego busted and proved a prude.

In shame I scream, a shattered dream
As the truth beholds in rage
The angry skies reveal all lies
Set upon this fiery stage.

I look up and about, no more with clout
And see an outstretched hand
“Come on, my friend, this is the end,”
Says she as I crudely stand.

Her hand in hold, my spirit sold
I cross the finishing line
And mercy be, quite wondrously
My world returns all fine.

The fury’s gone, the rain’s still on
But it’s all aglow and none ablaze
I walk a mile, and gently smile
Amidst the hurt that stays.

“What wonder’s this, what twisted bliss,
This path you chose to tread?”
She stares in silence, and whispers hence,
“That was the pain I said.”

There’s some light, not quite so bright
And more she lets amidst a smile
“Our taken road, the wrath we trode,
Has but an extra mile.”

That’s all she’d say, and looks away
Her face a frozen view
I take her hand, hold her and stand
In shifting lights of many a hue.