Poetry

---

AS I WALKED DOWN THE PATH...

© 2004
David Ian

We came to the fork
Splitting this way and there
The crumpled map gone
To tell us the where

We could handle the way
Discern by our eye
Which way would be best
For us bye and bye

And so on we journeyed
Blithely along
Making our choices
For right and for wrong

The direction seemed simple
The choices so few
The way it was obvious
By what we knew

The easiest path
‘Tis simple to say
The hard way’s ‘gainst nature
It must be the way

Little did we know
What trouble or woe
Would visit upon us
In the direction we’d go

We passed by the flowers,
the birds and the trees
Secure in our way,
throwing care to the breeze

But the way it grew dark
And hilly and wild
No longer was it sunny
Straightforward and mild

The trees they grew closer
And menaced and towered
But we wouldn’t tremble
Or admit to a coward

The sun disappeared
And the clouds they did rumble
It was the first time I remember
We ever did grumble

Then down the rains came
Such a cold and wet shower
And forward we trudged
For hour ‘pon hour

The hill became slick
A slippery climb
Our clothes became gritty
And dirty with grime

We looked at each other
With an eye that accuses
With blame our intent
And fortified excuses

And so in the rain
And thunder we argued
We shouted and pointed
So great was our feud

With the other to blame
Exacting the cost
And neither admit
We were helplessly lost


Gone was the road
All sunny and bright
Gone was our way
So filled with delight

By our own choice
And arrogance we stumbled
But ‘twas Pride that kept us
From admitting we’re humbled

So there ,O traveler
If you chance us to meet
By a wild roadside
In the rain or the sleet

If you have some direction
Or a crumpled old map
Could you lend us a hand?
We’re stuck in our trap

We can’t decide by our eye
Nor by signs of the way
Which way ‘twill lead us
To a sunnier day

Tho we’d never admit
Your help we would need
Just a little direction
From our trap we’d be freed

Tho’ we bicker and argue
Entreat us I plead
Give us good counsel
And that with all speed

And some day when our way
Is sunny and bright
And the path it is smooth
For us in our sight

And we happen upon you
Disheveled and all torn
Return we the favor
A map crumpled and worn

For as we do travel
On this road we call life
Fraught with distraction
And struggles and strife

E’er now and then
On the road that we travel
Our tensions and senses
Sometimes they unravel

And by the wayside
We find ourselves lacking
A sense of direction
And our companion attacking

We all need some help
By some passing stranger
Who’s been there before
And knows all the danger

And as a polite code
Of the road we’ll respond
With the kindness once offered
When you’re in despond

And should for a time
We travel together
The better for us
To aid in bad weather

To avoid the pitfalls
And traps that are injurious
And all other things
Threatening and dangerous

For while on our travels
We can lose our perspective
What a comfort to find
A stranger protective

And should that be you
On the way I should chance
To your health I will pray
And my thanks in advance

---

PLEASE ENCOURAGE AUTHOR BELOW LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE