Pilgrim’s progress

Just put one foot
in front of the other

Leave all fancy
angelic-apparition-beatific-vision-instant-enlightenment
fantasies and plans behind

Instead
pray thrice daily
that sore twinge
on the bottom of your big toe
doesn’t rub into a blister

Trust the path before you
and if you believe in God
trust God
otherwise
trust your legs

Trust the path
trust your knees
trust your feet
trust your toes

No fancy pants
no fancy plans
just one pilgrim foot
in front of the other pilgrim foot
and then that one in front of the other

And when you ease into your wayfarer’s bed
at the end of another well-trod day
let your aching salty happy body
softly open its pilgrim belly
and to the rafters raise
exhausted hymns of gratitude
and silent songs of praise