The Hermit

Lost, that’s all I know in this present moment

Heavy, that’s all I can feel as I trek through this wasteland

The light above me, in the distance, is all I see

Being held up within a lantern by a strange man

I feel his eyes watch over me

Not knowing if he is friend or foe

His light is the only guidance I have right now however

So I keep walking, my pace steady, but slow

He does not move from his mountain top

It is only I who moves, as I walk towards his light

Now at a crossroads, the left path moves towards a mountain cave

As a road leading into darkness lays to my right

The lantern light beckons me, and I find my feet moving left,

A voice from within telling me to be brave

I start to move a little faster towards the mountain

Until the light illuminates my path forward, leading me into a cave

Darkness consumes my thoughts, feelings, and vision

Within it I start to see what lead me to being lost in the first place

Everything I fear, all that I want to run from, every awful decision

I see it in the darkness as my life mistakes are thrown in my face

Just when I want to give up

A light in the darkness begins to illuminate

It clears my vision, giving me strength to see clear

And upon more hopeful things I start to ruminate

The star from the lantern sheds light on my life

Reveals to me the love I have, the triumphs, the things I’ve done right

The shadows in my mind dissipate, as the star cuts through them like a knife

A quiet strength washes over me, as I rediscover my fight

The light leads the rest of the way

And I follow it like a dear friend into the fray

I see the caves exit and step through, to find myself on top of the mountain

I see the old man, The Hermit, with his staff and light filled lantern

My vision blurs and when I step closer it clears, I finally start to see

I discover who has guided me all this way

Turns out the Hermit, is me

I feel nervous as I approach myself,

But their kind smile brings me peace

They sit me down with a knowing look

And my anxieties start to cease

I tell them of my woes, my worries, and all of my dreads

They tell me that it’s okay to feel these emotions

That the vast experience of life includes sometimes feeling down

It’s okay to get lost too, as often that is how you get found

They finally tell me to seek them out more often

Because if you have a strong relationship with yourself

You will never be alone

They give me the lantern of light, which fuses with my very being

And I finally feel at home