A Path within Colique Cane

A fork in the forest between mist and sunlight.

I am alone
surrounded by forest.
The path extends.
To the left,
the cane,
the brown path into the Alicres trees.
To the right,
my love.
She has walked back towards
the port.
She beckons me.
My choice—
go left into the woods,
into the mist by the lake
or
go right
into the beads of sunlight
dancing upon the knoll
where my lover awaits.
The tall trees rest
their branches upon
my tired shoulders.
I must linger here a while.

A poem by Pemba Umoja