Compelled

drained by seven withering storms dessert cactus and prickly thorns littered was the winding road that charted highways à la mode painted strokes of pastel hues streaming waves of flowing blues mountains rose that blocked the sky eclipse when worlds defy paths followed on cobblestones passed fallen heroes and graveyard bones bridges spanned white-capped waters life misled like seven daughters amber waves across fruited plains garnished the life that love sustains monuments tied to pride eclipse when worlds collide wind and fire without concession merge to rise and take possession conquer the failing weak the strong refuse to die oblique past seven gables on seven roofs I rode wild horses with pounding hoofs to a fireside and hearth that warms commingling hearts hearth silence storms February 16, 2020