Beyond the map,

Where legends dwell,

I ventured into the unknown.

Unaware of how long I had travelled

Or how long I had left to go.

Beaten by the elements

Torn

Tired

Grown

I persevered

I walked alone

Further into the unknown

I made some friends along the way

I left them long ago

I knew that something better called me

Further into the unknown

I brought some things with me

Passed down from those before

From travellers who left their mark

Further into the unknown

Stories of what awaited

Threats of what went wrong

The adventures that lay ahead of me

Further into the unknown

Their stories didn’t line up

Their threats already well known

I knew the path that I would take

That path was mine alone

So I ventured out

I am far away from home

Beaten

Worn

Tired

With so long left to go

I could’ve stopped my journey

I could have never grown

But stories left unwritten

Pointed to the unknown

Nothing but hope to guide me

No one by my side

Lacking the light of

A constant reminder

That I should,

In fact

Take

Pride

That I have walked the footsteps

Of those who have long since gone

I have made new paths

For those who may follow alone

I have narrowed gorges

I have carved through stone

So any others who trek this way

May never know my wounds and pain

May make it a little farther

Than my final resting place

When I find what I’ve been looking for

When unknown is just phase

I want to find where I belong

My home

My final stage

But here is not my place to lay

So I must journey on

For those who look to where I am

Those who are forlorn

I have seen the great unknown

I have laughed right in its face

I have survived for so so long

And I will give it chase

I will tell them once and for all

That this is the only way

You will trip and fall

And cry and love

But you must scream out loud

To the skies above

That this is just child’s play

The ones who came before you

Saw only but a blip

Of what is meant by the great unknown

So go and take the first step.