The Mirage

This barren desert hot and dry as noonday sun is beating down; I’ve walked for miles, no one in sight, and over head the buzzards fly awaiting death to end my plight. My throat is dry, my skin parched brown while on my face I wear death’s frown. I long for water wet and cool to quench the thirst of this old fool who took off on this trek alone to cross this desert on his own. But wait...what yonder do I see off in the distance, lush with tree; perhaps some water could it be? And shade to cool me from the sun? It can’t be far until l’m done; I guess it not but just a mile before I reach this desert isle. But wait...what grief as I approach it seems oasis growing dim; the visions on my dreams encroach and disappear with reaper’s hymn. My gait is lessened to a crawl through desert sand on hands and knee that burns my flesh as I advance. With weakness, on my face I fall and wonder why I took the chance. But still in yonder sand I see the lush oasis luring me, yet in my mind I know not real, this damned mirage my dreams to steal. My life is flashing ‘fore my eyes; the end is nearer I surmise. I think of her, the moments shared and her vile voice that said she cared; I thought our hearts forever paired, but like this vision in the sand… ‘twas mere mirage on barren land. The noonday sun I cannot bear as grains of sand mix in my hair, and now I know that doom awaits; the buzzards lurk as death bells chime; my weary soul left to the fates as reaper’s hymn tells me it’s time. January 4, 2020