Word Picture Contest Book

The Pursuit of Dreams

The Pursuit of Dreams

“Go west, young man!” and with these spoken words
A nation lifted up its eyes to see
The far-flung vistas that before remained
Obscured in mists shrouding the horizon.

A need to know what lies beyond, ingrained
By generations who crossed the oceans
For a promise, thin as the pungent gruel
They blessed, of a chance for a better day.

By wagon, by horse, by foot they traversed
This land of endless possibilities.
The next valley, the next mountain, onward
Toward the sunset, building a nation.

Their journey complete, at the ocean’s edge
They discarded their old world heritage
And loudly proclaimed “We’re Americans!”
And with those words, a new journey began.

An entry for the Feb 3 - 10 round of "Word Pictures Contest" 
Prompt: Image
Form: Free Verse
Line Limit:  7 - 40
Line Count: 16