The Waiting

The tick of the clock
     slams like a hammer
     against Arianne’s eardrum.
Her eyes growing heavy
     as the itinerant sun slips
     towards the western horizon.
Endless red, orange and yellow
     spills from the heavens,
     onto the blue canvas sky
Great billowing cloud herds
     transiting the azure ocean are
     set ablaze against a fiery sunset.
Arianne sits by the open window,
     hypnotized by the meadow sages
     bending in the evening breeze.
Luminescent fireflies dancing free
     leave trails of ghostly strings to fade
     amongst the old grey stones.
Whilst wisps of fairy dust swirl
     in the magical air, like lacy strands
     gilding her already flaxen hair.
She knows not who the traveller is,
     only that the journey ends
     at the old weathered gate.
How much longer must
     she remain here before
her limit has been reached.
For as long as she has a heartbeat
     she has sworn to help
     her weary guest reach the finish.