the worth and agony of trying (for ashley)

sitting in front of the screen, considering

the worth and agony of trying.

eyes hurting and head spinning, 

the spirit of the envied traveller deflates.

she braced herself, she left. 

she journeyed, she opened her arms

to mountains and oceans and skies,  

to learning and adventure,

to wilderness,

to a man.

his hair is short. and he loves her.

he uses words she doesn’t know.

she tells of her life and her home, 

so far away,

with pictures and words,

soul and body.

she’s yearning for something more.

arms wide open

to the belabouring, the exhausting, the mundane, 

the impossible.

the impossible...

is it really possible?

sitting in front of the screen, turning to face the man

with short hair 

and a far-away life that's growing nearer and nearer,

and there, for a moment, catching a glimpse

of the worth and agony of trying.