She used to own a compass…
perhaps now packed away
with her old Girl Scout stuff–
a sash, some badges, a plastic lanyard, an empty cookie box.

Now she'd simply lost her way.
On which side of the tree does the moss grow?
On which side of her heart could she hide the bruises?

Which direction would carry her
away from the wilderness
and back to civilization…
or some semblance thereof?

She used to own a compass.

Text and image © 2012 by Dirk deVries. All rights reserved.