The Path

some days your back's
humped with the hardness
and some days the sun
shines right through
and you know God has
got you wrapped up
in that old quilt,
other days it seems as if
God is busy doing whatever
needs tending and pruning --
it's a long road, meanders
a bit, takes awhile to get up
mountains and burrs attach
to your clothing, and anemones
preen and beg you to look
and the hollers seem so low
but then God takes you by
the hand to help you climb
to the next rise, to see that
road that you thought you lost
is right there ready for walking
and you set out again