Wanderer's Lament #5

Wanderer's Lament What fates have carved this path, so dim, so deep? Unspoken tales in shadows that we keep. In search of peace, yet gripped by life's harsh hand, In dreams alone, we seek an untouched land. Lost in the haze of drink, smoke's veil, the needle's lure, Yet in the silence, an echoing void, so pure. A burden borne, unyielding in its heft, Leading through aimless roads, a fate bereft. Family ties, once cherished, now whispers of regret, Loved ones lost to memory, their absence hard to forget. Shadows flicker under city lights, a fleeting, elusive scene, Alone like a stray, in solitude unseen. A soul adrift, sinking into silent woes, In depths unseen, a shadow's quest, it flows. At a forlorn stop, a question lingers in despair, "Where are you?" – a whisper to the vacant air. "As the deer longs for water, so I long for you, O Lord. My soul thirsts for the divine, the living word. When shall I stand before your grace, amidst my nightly tear? 'Where is your God?' they taunt, yet I hold you near." Inspired by Psalm 42:1 (Note: The inclusion of the Bible verse (Psalm 42:1) is kept as it was integral to the original poem's theme and closing.) Written by Steven G. Lee (December 7, 2023)