Long Haul Man

Long Haul

Words popping

Into my liquid mind

The recent hike

With a young man

Ever present

I’m not about going faster

I’m about going longer

Sharing the turtle analogy

Over-enthusiasm and

bullheadedness of no use

Pushing through everything

No longer desiring

The pain and loneliness

Coming with

This choice in life

Ahh, the wisdom

Of age

Wanting to go

The distance

Farther than

Others seem

To be able

To go

No desire

To burn up

To fast

Or to turn back

Out of exhaustion

Avoiding twisted

Broken ankles

Choosing to plan appropriately

Focusing on the present

Therefore, tuned into

The future

Accepting every step

Not hurrying the process

Quieting the little boy

In the back-seat screaming,

When are we

Going to get there?

Slowly releasing

The red-face impatience

Fully taking in

The process involved

Embracing the journey

Encircling the profoundness

 Of just being

Rick Ellsmore

5.15.20

From a hike in Evergreen, CO