Pilgrim’s progress

Just put one foot
in front of the other
leave all fancy
angelic-apparition-beatific-vision-instant-enlightenment
plans behind

And pray daily
that sore twinge
on the bottom of your big toe
doesn’t slip and slide 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
and then the other one in front of that

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