Learning to Walk in Ruby Slippers

I’ve traveled so far
twixt soil and star
tripping on yellow bricks,
skipping,
standing,
kicking against the pricks,
leaping,
landing,
gallivanting,
tip-toe tapping,
strutting,
strolling,
night patrolling,
trudging,
touring,
mapless exploring
deftly ignoring
the inner voices
whispering warnings
of chances, of choices...
of Kansas farms...
and open arms
of Auntie Em, of Henry and Toto...
all of them calling
the way they’re supposed to
hoping I’ll march on
through the fear...
hoping I’ll listen
and finally hear:
"You’ve always had
the power
within you,
my dear!"