Journey Towards the Star by Herb Shippey

Journey Towards the Star

by Herb Shippey

A bright star above
an oasis in the night.
Tired camels at rest,
wise men asleep in their tents,
the servants snoring nearby.

A slight wind blowing
shifts the desert sand sideways,
coiling and hissing.
A servant stirs in his sleep
and sinks back into his dreams.

Dawn washes the sky.
In the west one star still shines.
The sleepers awake,
camels kneel for their riders,
and the journey continues.

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Herb Shippey is retired from full-time teaching at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in Tifton, GA, but still teaches American Literature and freshman writing part-time. His book Flying with the Spooks: Memoir of a Navy Linguist in the Vietnam War is scheduled for publication by McFarland Publishing (mcfarlandbooks.com/product/flying-with-the-spooks) near the beginning of the new year. You can also read more from Herb Shippey at his blog Words from the Wind.

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Richard Everywriter (pen name) is the founder of EveryWriter and a 25-year veteran of the publishing industry. With degrees in Writing, Journalism, Technology, and Education, Richard has dedicated two decades to teaching writing and literature while championing emerging voices through EveryWriter's platform. His work focuses on making literary analysis accessible to readers at all levels while preserving the rich heritage of American literature. Connect with Richard on Twitter  Bluesky Facebook or explore opportunities to share your own work on ourSubmissions page. For monthly insights on writing and publishing, subscribe to our Newsletter.

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