KNAPSACK

It was the end of the road , I had scaled another peak 

I was weary so I sat down and emptied my knapsack on the side of the road 

I hadn’t looked at it’s contents in a long while , 

I am a collector ,all of my valuables and my winnings were in the knapsack  

I was eager and excited , I had so much to show for my difficult trek up the mountain 

So I empty it and go through it’s contents 

I surprised myself by feeling a twinge of disappointment and of sadness 

Why do my trophies look like mere baubles? 

Why do my winnings look like mere trinkets? 

I had collected many pieces of silver , why is their shine so dull? 

I searched my memory , why is it so hazy? 

When I was fighting for those trophies, they seemed so important , so shiny 

Everyone around seemed to agree , they clapped and cheered me on didn’t they? 

They appear as mere baubles now , so I threw them away 

I turn to my winnings now and my many pieces of silver 

I remember the many casinos and markets along the trek 

Where I had gambled away my time and many pieces of my soul 

Just so I could win these – they seemed so shiny then – the pieces of silver and my many winnings 

I remember wanting them , so badly 

Now they appear lusterless , so I threw them away 

I searched myself , I looked for my soul 

It was riddled through with holes , I had been breaking pieces of it to gamble away 

It seemed easier that way coming up , lighter 

I looked at my watch , I didn’t have too much time left 

I had spent too much of it winning baubles and trinkets 

I sighed 

This has been yet another all too familiar experience 

Another false peak , another knapsack that I threw away 

I get up with difficulty , groaning and weary , searching the horizon 

I spy another peak 

May be this will be the one 

I have some time left , however little 

I have still parts of my soul left to gamble away 

May be I wont have to throw away the knapsack after scaling this one 

I hope this will be the last 

I haven’t time nor much of a soul left