The
Mirage
We
followed the trail
through
the woods
sometimes
making
our own.
To
me
it
was virgin territory
my
feet had never
walked
that path.
But
he
had
traveled that same trail
oh,
so many times before.
He
thought
he'd
seen every leaf
and
rock.
But
with my eyes
I
saw the things
that
he had never seen.
Like
a small boy
stuffing
his pockets
with
all the
wonders
of his world.
I
stuffed my mind
with
all the wonders
of
that day.
The
tiny pebbles
in
the stream,
the
sandbar
we
landed on
when
we crossed.
Small
spots of moss
growing
on
forgotten
rocks.
Squirrels
dancing
over
patches
of
lichen.
And
then I saw
what
he had
never
seen.
The
earth
had
dropped
away.
And
there ahead
where
snow had
never
been.
Was
now
a
snow filled
chasm.
The
wonder
of
it
stunned
me.
And
then
I
knew
it
wasn't there.
I
saw it in my mind
but
still
it
wasn't there.
And
then I saw
it
through his eyes.
No
more a faerie canyon
only
a
water image of the sky.
I
thought
if
I could see
with
both our eyes
then
why not he?
He,
on looking
through
my eyes
could
then see what I saw.
But,
which
of us
could see the truth?