Health

Ale and friends beckon;
Heat and heated conversation entice.
There are tall, tall tales to tell
Of teal oceans studded
With calm harbors in leas sublime.
But my heart whispers, Halt.
Solitude will heal with words
Strung into late-night necklaces
The wounds this worldís lathe
Eats into flesh and soul.
Let sojourns in notebooks
With lotus-blossom tea
Knit you hale again
Against the next journey on the heath.