Earthbound

Once there was
a very small boy

a baby
in my mother’s arms,
reaching for the breast

later, following
in my father’s footsteps,
I set out

and so I came
to a great forest
where no one lived

then the money ran out

searching under
the sky
I went astray

years later
I returned
my father still alive

when he died
he left me

more than enough

I tried to hold it,
but it did not stay

after that,
my hands closed

again
I went to the forest

I came to a gate
in a mountain
with a sign:

Welcome

but I did not reach
the handle

it opened
from within—

a glinting cascade