The Walk

We took the path together
the long way round the church.
Each of us believing that
the other failed to finish;
Each falling short of faith
in the others chance to change.
But still, we got along all right,
and walked quietly together.

Old mates, content and cozy
in the blanket of our times.

He always loved variety,
and would revel in a flaw.
Whenever plain was good enough,
he'd find the faintest freckles,
the speckles, spots and sprinkles,
or the way a thing would sheen
and cast it's colors in the world.
"The Radiance," I'd offer.

He'd shrug, and mumble something
like there are too many names.

I don't remember when this started,
but he seemed to like a skeptic
and never once complained
although I tested him a lot.
For all the times he paused,
he never fell or faltered;
We'd back and forth a matter,
and I'd often see him right.

The other times, he'd smile and say
"Well, one of us is wise.

We could be a bit contrary
but we shared much together.
We'd both embrace an ugly truth
above a pretty lie.
He liked to see a thing
for what it was if he could stand it.
I liked to change my mind
if just to show it was alive.

“You change your mind?” he'd ask.
“Not yet, I'm waiting, Sir, for you.”

This day he took confession
and smiled while I recounted
how in youth I'd called him awful names
and thrown rocks at his house.
In spite of all this meanness,
he never came out mad.
He laughed his hardy way
and spoke while hardly breaking stride,

“Your aim was never good enough,
plus I admired the rocks.”

And then we'd walk on further
to sit and watch the children
scurry, scream, and somersault
around the park half mad.
And I'd think of my own young ones
and how I'd told them of these walks,
and wondered if they understood
"Agnostic, but involved."

“Have you seen them,” I would ask
and he'd say “Often, on the paths.”

And when the day was fading
and he seemed to go his way,
I imagined him with others
finding all the funny flaws.
Perhaps they saw him differently,
for the world is made in imagery
of him, and them, and some of us
that come a different way -

and take the path that always stays
a long way from the church.