At long last, my trek is over!
That long, arduous journey,
constantly uphill,
heavily weighted
by baggage from my past.
Carrying the tonnage of secrets
and lies
from my family,
foisted upon my small shoulders
to ease their burdens.
The heaviness
of lies of my own
told to myself
in order to bear the evil surrounding me.
And the weighty secrets of my heart’s desires
neither spoken nor shared.
Climbing, endlessly
trudging uphill
in darkness,
burdened, exhausted,
but somehow
knowing that healing
was only up ahead.
Not able to see any future,
yet using all my strength
to put one foot in front of the other,
doubled over by the weight I carried.
Thus, I grew strong
toiling into adulthood.
At times, my trail would cross the path of others.
Glad for the company, we would stop,
share our travels.
I’d talk the heaviness of my burdens.
“Just put them down,” they would advise,
going on their lighthearted ways.
I shake my head and laugh softly.
“You don’t understand,”
I’d say to their retreating backs.
“These burdens are bound to me
with ties that entwine my soul.
To put them down would rip me apart.”
Now and again I happen upon a healer,
or a magician,
or a wise woman,
who would help me untangle a knot,
gently releasing one burden or another
before being on their way.
A shaman,
more wise ones,
each knowing different rope tricks,
until one by one
the burdens lowered to the ground;
one by one
the burdens released from my soul.
One by one.
Less and less.
Lighter and lighter.
Standing straighter and straighter.
Until at last
I stand here,
upright and strong,
carrying only the supplies I need to go forward.
My soul free.
