Susan Shea
Pilgrims
So many people must have worked
to build the composite walkway
through the balsam scented forest
but we were usually the only ones
following the trail past the beavers
all the way up to the enormous bursting
spraying water falling over the mountain
time-tested to hold the weight of
any unexpected rainfall and awe
we felt the fresh wet on our faces
as our eyes were compelled to look up
to receive the worth of magnificence
given freely, for all to see
things had changed now
we were not alone anymore
going and coming involved stepping
to the left and right to make room
for travelers who spoke in so many
foreign tongues, we were a bit
confounded trying to identify their origins
but, with one cantankerous exception
the rest of us found ways
to say hello with nods and going a bit
out of our steps to make space
for each other, to get to and from
our common quest respectfully
one man put it best when he looked
into us, and put his folded fist upon
his heart to make a solemn face that said
thank God we are all here
to eat the breadth of this wonder together
