shepherd

one keeper of animal souls

on his anxious midnight mission

trekking the dark hills and flats

over rocky ground where nothing grows

but so much can get lost

alert with watery vision

pupils squinting

searching

picturing the terrified eyes

of the one lost out there

cut off from the flock

imagining its fear

its hunger

and the deep lonely of its breathing

wandering clueless but anxious

helpless

the flock will be all right

they have each other

but what about this disoriented one

has panic set in

is it dehydrated

is it on its side

fallen

vulnerable to predatory creatures

i must not rest

i must not flag in energy

i must not sit down

nor despair

I must scan the horizon

check every fleck

every distant disturbance

until I find it

comfort it

and bring it home