he tethered a goat to a small cart
wore a hood to cover his face
packed his arms and tools
and food
and started walking

the sea was to his right
mountains to the left
he kept sight of both
and took the path
least travelled

for months he walked
drank rainwater
then stopped
then started again

at night he rested
heard owls hooting
watched the bats
swooping over his head
by the light of the moon

a year passed
still he walked
storms came and went
lightning flashed
mountains grew higher

where two paths crossed
one eye stopped

sitting on the limb of a broken tree
the figure of man
who caught the echo of his footsteps
then turned an eyeless head

at last murmured the man