The Oasis A very lonely, weary traveler On a journey through a desert Dry and barren A rocky, hard and dusty trail Leads on before and fades behind Into the lost forever past As the sun beats down And while the icy darkness enfolds The traveler trudges on Unaware and unbelieving That relief will ever come For this hunger, for this thirst Enveloping and threatening To overcome, like the desert sand Inexorably encroaches and overcomes The cool, green forest Swallowing up the traveler's very soul Suddenly, on the horizon Appears a distant small oasis Hope But the traveler, made cynical By too many false mirages in the past Hesitates to dare to hope, let alone Believe As the coolness and sweet fragrance Of clear blue water, green grass, trees Wafts across the desert breeze To the traveler's broken heart That oasis, not a vision or mirage Bids the traveler stop a while To find refreshment and peaceful rest In the oasis, in a well of hope And sweet encouragement That will send the traveler onward To the journey's end. Poetry