He walks
in a place
far from consciousness.

Desolate,

wasteland,

barren,

arid.

The sky tinted

with colors diverse.

A familiar sight.

Yet,

something is different.

There is something

not quite familiar

about this strange new land.

Every step he takes,

has a result.

A change.

Step one--

the sand changes colors.

From the familiar golden beige,

to a disconcerting sick green.

Step two-

he slips.

The sand's texture has become

like that of ice.

He pulls himself together.

Step three-

he falls through,

the sand's density,

now that of clouds.

While falling, he smiles.

He takes another step.

He walks,

walks for hours.

Delighting in each step,

in each change.

She, too, walks in a strange place.

She, too, walks alone.

She, too, walks.

A forest,

atypical,

purple leaves,

pink trunks,

orange branches.

Everything upside down,

inside out.

And yet,

she walks.

Suddenly,

a tree.

That was not there before.

She smarts from the impact.

She walks in the bright forest.

New objects pop up.

New images pop up.

New surprises,

every moment.

She takes a step.

A red vine, full of flowers,

and there is a subtle taste of strawberries in her mouth

Another step,

A massive flower,

as big as a horse,

smelling,

of Mom's home cooking.

She walks,

walks for hours.

Anticipating surprises,

dreading surprises,

and yet,

delighting in them.

She is surprised by the desert.

He acknowledges the change in the forest.

They keep walking.

They meet,

forest and desert,

abundance and lack,

ever surprising,

ever changing.

You walk along the beach.

A beach,

not of sand,

but of granite.

The water is black.

You walk.

The stone is comforting.

You walk.

The stone is disturbing.

You walk.

The stone is sad.

You keep walking.

The stone is joyous,

angry,

puzzled.

It invigorates you,

it tires you,

it hurts you,

it heals you.

You walk,

walk for hours.

Feeling each step,

Experiencing each feeling.

I walk,

I walk along the mountains.

Bright blue ridges,

smooth surfaces,

drops,

escalations.

It is not rocky,

it is not wooded.

It is.

I walk.

Each ridge brings a new question,

each fall a new thought.

Each step brings new knowledge.

I walk,

walk for hours.

Pondering,

Contemplating,

ruminating, 

cogitating.

You feel the new thoughts,

I perceive this new feeling.

Beach and mountain,

depth and height.

Ever feeling,

ever thinking.

He walks,

she walks.

Side by side,

hand in hand.

You walk,

I walk.

Hand in hand,

side by side.

We all meet,

he, she, you, I.

Desert, forest, beach, and mountain.

Change, surprise, feeling, and thought.

We come together,

we merge.

One being,

one land.