this running, slowly,   
along the paths, chosen?
and  knowing others are here...

i slow down to rest, sighing
knowing i am alone, yet...
only within.

for as i sit at  this moment
the silence beats as others travel,
alone,  as well.    only within. 

silence, tears, laughter, drumming, dragging  feet -- wanderers  all about!   these paths, oh as   purgatory
must be,  perhaps?

dancers all  round,  all a bit lost,  as  if  in a make-shift ballet full of steps gone awry  ... 
 ( yet such  purpose!?)

paths cross and there is a stillness
and a breath,  and an echo of a heartbeat 
from afar,   felt. 

and i silently wonder at how suddenly that echo
has become  no echo at all,  as my heart beats out
the rhythm of another's journey...

and another's

          and...?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~