K.D. Scriminger

Walking barefoot, traveling alone
the sun beats down - slowing me down
but I continued on...

Along the way,
I noticed a man
sitting in contemplation
along the shore, beneath a shady tree.
He wore a heavy, black wool cloak
and laying next to him was
a crooked walking stick and
a coyote for a companion

I sat down beside him...slowly...
(as not to frighten his companion)
in silence we sat...for a moment or two
Until at last he spoke
he looked my way
and it was then that I saw...
that he could not!

“Can you read this?” he asked of me
and he handed me a piece of canvas.

I looked upon the canvas,
turning it over and over and over again

“Can’t you read?” he criticized.

“Of course I can!”
I sternly snapped,
“When there are words to be read!”

He took the canvas from my hand,
“Are you blind child? It clearly says,
Seeing is Believing!”

It was than I realized ...
that miraculously he could now see.
He stood up and
handed me the blank canvas,
looking into my eyes,
searching through my soul, he added...
“One must only need to believe!”

He dusted himself off and bid me farewell
“It was very nice to see you,” he said.
And turned away from me to leave.
His companion, the coyote stopped
just momentarily and looked back at me...
(waiting for me?)
...Before catching up with the man
and walking off with him...
disappearing into the distance...

I continued to sit upon the shore
with the a gentle wind tickling the tree
I sat beneath...the blank canvas in my hands...
sitting in contemplation
of the words that were obviously not written...
I strained and squinted but...
try as I did...there was nothing...

And with that! I tucked the canvas away,
shaking my head in disbelief and confusion
I dusted myself off and continued on...

.................to be continued...