In the Interior

This poem speaks to a lifelong journey with my oldest friend Robert. We have known each other for close to thirty years.

In the Interior

When you let me in your life,
all the way in, we took this walk
that turned into a hike that I didn't
know we were on, until it got late, and
you said, "Let's camp here and go on
in the morning." That night I sensed
we were in the interior and knew it
was a privilege. The next day, birds
seemed to fly closer and streams
closed behind us and branches
dropped their needles to soften our
way. It was then I realized, the path
was part of you. When we got to the
ridge, the one you listen to eternity
from, we both started to cry. And to
think, one day we were strangers.

A Question to Walk With: Journal the story of the history of a friend, someone you have travelled to the interior with. After a week, tell this story to another friend.

For more poetry for the soul, click here.

For more by Mark Nepo, click here.