Wilderness

She looked at me like something spilled Not a person, just a threat to erase I walked until the silence filled Every mile of this unwelcome place Out past the breaking point I turned around Found my feet still planted in the ground Wilderness — that's what they called this place I call it the first time I was seen Not a servant, not a name, just a face Finally looking back at what it means Let them keep their gardens and their gold I found more out here than they'll ever hold Years later they sent me away again No home, no water, not even a friend I laid my son in the shrinking shade And begged the sky for the debt to be paid Out past the breaking point again I would not let it be the end Wilderness — that's what they called this place I call it the first time I was seen Not a servant, not a name, just a face Finally looking back at what it means Let them keep their gardens and their gold I found more out here than they'll ever hold Something opened up the earth A well I never knew was there Water rising like a second birth Proof that someone, somewhere still would care I named El Roi, the one who saw my pain Before I had a place to stand They can erase me just the same But I'm the ground beneath their sand Wilderness — that's what they called this place I call it the first time I was seen Not a servant, not a name, just a face Finally looking back at what it means Let them keep their gardens and their gold I found the wilderness was never cold Wilderness That's where I'm seen