I pick my way carefully
Stumbling along the rocks
Stifling heat everywhere
Earth scorched white
I walk my path
I recognize the faces, the warm welcomes
Freeze into coldness,
Yet, from afar, I thought them known
I look at them again, a
flurry in my mind
They stand unmoving
I was alone, itinerant, maybe
I had a skill, my hands, they had a healing touch
Pain-filled eyes they came to me
One touch, they murmured, one touch
And I obliged, knowing well,
That the coolness I bore was their elixir
Feverish brows, minds straying noisily
One touch of my hand lent calm quiet
Peaceful sleep they earned, sometimes as a prequel to death
Some magic in those hands, they said
They trusted me to heal their pains
In return, I believed in them
I longed to belong, I was
kind
I yearned for kindness
Yet there were those who feared me
He bears unnatural equanimity
He watches when death is near
He does not tremble, as we do, in fear
People talk, Oh you must see, that hand is a healer's
And a voice turns with eyes of old hate
Charlatan, it spits, Liar!
Healer indeed, steals your women's hearts
While you welcome him to your homes
You do not know the lies he speaks
When all of us are away
His abilities are not of this earth
Watch him closely, that is what I say
And doubt is born
Her gaze should be only my due
And soon that doubt it churns within
Growing into gnawing suspicion
They would not come to me,
forbade their wives
Their young and I thought
to move on
But someone stayed my hand
Take care of my land while
I am gone
I will be away for long
And thinking that a route
was found, I stayed
But the winds change
Bearing life one moment
Bringing death the next
They wail, they pray, they rend their eyes
There is no place for hope
I turn away sadly, there are more lying here
They call out to me, come help us
And I willingly let them take my hand
What is this curse the wind
gods bring?
Snatching life even from the
merest sighs
We are hardy, the terrain makes us so
We can take long deprivation, yet… death is everywhere
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