The Pilgrim

Climbing on the mountain trail
Slipping feet on treacherous shale
Chilling in the morning air
Other pilgrims passing there,

Left his family long before
Searching heaven’s open door
With his begging bowl in hand
Over rivers, burning sand.

Saffron robe sways in the breeze
Whispers prayers his god to please,
Glances toward those distant hills
Sparkling snow and wind that chills.

Ashram* hiding out of sight,
Dreams that visit him each night,
Voices urge him on to face
Mysteries from out of space.

Droning prayers from pilgrim band
Things he cannot understand,
Earnestly he seeks to know,
Go most others cannot go.

Wearily he crests the hill
Summoning his flagging will,
Hope now drives him down the track
Forward, for he can’t go back.

Mountain villagers look on
Watch him come and see him gone
Offerings his bowl they bring
Joyful praise with songs they sing.

Then he reaches ashram peace
Climbs stone steps upon his knees
Now to spend his final days
There to unlock heaven’s ways.

“© Ian Grice 2008”


*An Ashram in ancient India was a Hindu hermitage where sages lived in peace and tranquility amidst nature. Today, the term ashram is sometimes used to refer to an intentional community formed primarily for spiritual upliftment of its members, often headed by a religious leader or mystic. Wikipedia