Not Abandoning Oneself

He does not speak much
Even while in the morning walk
he greets no one

As the walk moves towards its destination
the pain in his feet makes itself known
He tells no one about that pain

When the noon 
stands at the center of the sky
the world grows louder

He becomes more silent
There his entire life
stands as a single straight line
a hesitant, wavering stroke

No one asks
whether he will lose or win

He, however
does not stop walking
does not loosen his resolve

By the time he returns in the evening,
the sun has lost much of its fire

Yet in his eyes
something still remains

It is
not defeat

Not victory

It’s simply
the act of not abandoning himself 

*****