Walk the Valley

Sadness died in a valley.

Tan stone walls echoing

with the cries of a family.

Four days lost with nothing

but curving high walls.

The never-ending corridor of

rock.

Each turn bringing what should

have been mystery,

but instead

only fear.

Count backwards from ten, nine, eight...

Excitement was with them at first,

perched on their shoulders and

driving them into the cool shade.

"It'll be fun!" Excitement said.

But Excitement didn't stay with them long.

Oh no.

Once the children started complaining,

of tired feet,

being too hot,

being hungry,

Excitement headed back

for the next contestant.

Fear came next,

creeping around every corner,

lingering on every ledge.

Whispering words of

"Are you sure this is

the right way?"

"What if it's not?"

But the family walked on, already this

far in,

they couldn't turn back.

Anxiety settled in, right beside fear.

Spreadsheet in hand,

pencil behind the ear.

A constant stream of what can go wrong.

Of the time since they had entered the valley.

One day?

Two?

Are you sure?

How long can you go without water?

Then Doubt and Regret joined in.

"Why did you do this?

What was so great

about this valley

you now want to escape?"

The stone walls now closed in,

tan fading to gray.

The family could feel

a million and one things.

But ever on they walked

twisting and turning

down slots

and up.

And the feelings kept churning.

On the third day,

Anxiety was as big as a house.

A full notepad and pencil constantly out,

charting the ways this journey

could go even more wrong.

Forgetfulness too

got in on the party.

It scrubbed their minds

about where they'd been,

how they got there,

the number of minutes

seconds

hours

had passed.

In the night, Sadness paid a visit.

Shrouded in darkness,

not to be kept out

once the sun went down.

It landed on each family member,

and like a mosquito,

drew away all the good memories

and hopes

and dreams

of ever

ever

getting

out

of the valley.

But finally

on day four

the light brightened out

and the stone walls were tan.

And the family walked out.

And Sadness

not having anyone to feed it,

laid down and

looking wistfully ahead

died.