I dreamt of a shepherd boy,
with the gentlest eyes that e'er I've seen,
and brown hair running down his back,
like a swift flowing meadow stream,
I met him while running from my pain,
seeking escape in the woods and hills,
I had been following a narrow creek,
and crossing o'er the fields,
When I came upon a flock of sheep,
and began to pass them by,
Tears were streaking down my face,
with more burning in my eyes,
I heard a voice call out to me,
and nervously turned to see,
a young man sitting with his flock,
his hair tied back; he smiled at me,
His eyes brimmed with kindness,
on his lips was an understanding smile,
At once I felt I could trust him,
so I went to sit with him a while,
I found myself opening my heart to him,
pouring out to him everything,
I told him my sorrow, my joys,
and discovered the solace compassion can bring,
Though innocent of the world's troubles,
he listened and held me as I cried,
Then he shared with me tales of his simple life,
and listening I longingly sighed,
I said his life sounded lovely,
and asked more of shepherding to learn,
for a spark had lit within my heart,
and to stay by his side I did yearn,
So he showed me how to tend the sheep,
and took me to his cottage home,
He cared for his ailing grandfather,
and revealed a life that ne'er I'd known,
I stayed to eat and talk some more,
and learn about a shepherd's ways,
Though I left that night for my home,
I came back to him in mere days,
Then everyday I'd find escape,
in his laughter and his grin,
and in our long and heartfelt talks,
as we walked o'er dell and glen,
And in those hills I found my peace,
and in him I found my joy,
then found I had fallen in love,
with my darling shepherd boy,
Happily with him I would have lived,
but fortune struck an evil stroke,
and stole him and that life away,
the moment that I awoke,
Now all that I have left of him,
is what I brought back when I came,
from out of that dream into this one,
and that's his memory and his name,
Mi'tah, my dearest shepherd boy,
each night I seek to find,
and search in sleep for that quiet glade,
among the tangled pathways of the mind,
The escape I found with him is gone,
and for that loss I greatly grieve,
This world whispers "It wasn't real."
but that I cannot quite believe,
For I remember his love and touch,
no matter how unreal it may seem,
Though in this world I may find him not,
he was more than just a dream.