Cami de Cavalls

A Sestina

"He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end" (Ecclesiastes 3:11).

On the trail, horseshoed around the island
Like a gift to open only midway
To celebrate the milepost of half-done
The other half is always easier
From heated battles waged and lessons learned
A greater strength from failures can be gained

Each step chosen means something lost or something gained
Knowing the trail leads around the island
Whether fast or slow, the trail I have learned
Who knows at what point to name it midway?
The going is tough, but the tough gets easier
This is how I can know I'm halfway done

The other quiet half is left undone—
A breath taken to glory in the gain
They say it's all downhill and easier
But doubts jut out like rocks on the island
Many end the journey at the midway
Grit may fail and faith in the trail not learned

So far as I have journeyed and have learned
Others quit and I don't know what they've done
To bow out and give up at the midway
I'm no better, for in failures I've gained
My place of confidence on the island
To be sure hard times are easier

In this next leg, the path is easier
How can it be? Is it from what I've learned?
Gravity pulls my weight down the island
At this rate, we'll finish before we're done
To end seems such a waste with all we've gained
That's why I marked the moment at the midway

Clearly, we're moving farther from the midway
Yes, yes, it's true. It has been easier
So many memories that I have gained
Some wisdom I can say that I have learned
But do I really want to be all done—
To leave this broken paradise island?

What will happen with all that I have learned—
To leave the trail when all is said and done?
Might I blaze a trail on a new island?