The Path

We all arrive upon this earth

With zero, at our time of birth

The cord is cut and so it starts

We’re at our path’s beginning mark.

Seven billion souls and counting

Beyond this miracle, we’re nothing

Who-knows-how-many paths, plus one

The only map to guide us on

And while the planet spins around

A speck in space yet to be found,

We place one foot upon the dirt

And onwards march just like the first.

We walk our path on naked feet

Sometimes the ground will make us bleed

We walk our path sometimes we’re lost

Though not at fault we bear the cost.

We walk our path or deviate

An unpaved road that’s rarely straight

Whichever rout you chose to take

The track you make remains the same.

On we walk with feet of lead

Sometimes we walk upon our heads

We crawl along on hand and knee;

Standing tall ain’t always easy

The gait we take is not important;

It’s the grace with which we bear our burdens.

The path is smooth or made of rock

We slip and slide and climb and stop.

The path is soft and sometimes kind

Occasionally, kindness makes us blind

And we forget to look around

To see our friends on shaky ground

And we forget that could be us,

Stranded on the craggy pass.

We walk our path still when we sleep

Through castle clouds and shadows deep.

We walk our path sometimes we run

Sometimes away, sometimes for fun

The sun shines bright to light our way

But sometimes, though it’s bright as day

We stumble, one, or stumble all

Alone or all together fall.

Mistakes of one or evil done

Each lesson draws us further on

Or further in or further past

Or leads us further up the path.

Sometimes our path’s a tale tall

Sometimes it makes no sense at all

Sometimes the view is filled with splendour;

Mountain top to valley yonder

It’s easy here, to stand and see

The world for all it seems to be

But other times it’s dark as night

We stumble on despite our fright

And while we wait for day to break

There’s just one choice for us to make:

Do we take it as a token?

Shut our eyes or keep them open?

If we go with eyes downcast

The things that we may miss are vast

We might neglect to see a sign

Or catch a trick or draw a line

(although it can be understood

why sometimes, it’s too hard to look)

We might forget to hear a tune

Or notice when the flowers bloom

And would it not be such a shame

To only see the losing game.

We walk alone, each path unique

United simply by our feet

And eyes that look but also see

Paths paved with possibilities.

We leave the earth

Just as in birth

There’s nothing we can take;

Our only real legacy, the path that we create.

Author's Note

For my Dad.

Reviews

[Fabian G. Franklin]

What a morally uplifting piece filled with wisdom and I would leave a more detailed review but for some reason my browser keeps shutting me out. I enjoyed.

[danielle.]

Thank you Fabian. I appreciate the effort under trying circumstances!

[barleygirl]

Since I love rhyme & rhythm, I love how you've packed your poem with it, but it does not distract from the deeper meaning of your message. That's how word-crafting should be, almost invisible, but we feel it strongly as we read aloud in our minds or with our mouths. Your message starts out a little simple & straightforward, possibly with more generalities than specifics, but then this could be the reflection of the simple concept of childhood. Then your message grows in complexity & shows us more of the important points you want to make about life -- this is where it becomes most compelling & interesting. I like your friendly lighthearted tone, where you describe the important aspects of good living without coming across as one bit preachy (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[Coyote Poetry]

I agree dear Poet.
"We leave the earth
Just as in birth
There’s nothing we can take;
Our only real legacy, the path that we create."
The above lines are true. What we leave behind is the wealth we earned in a life. Our children. Thank you for sharing the outstanding poetry.
Coyote

[.]

An impressive write, 'elle.

I admire longer pieces. Despite the naysayers who always argue that 'more can be said in shorter lengths', it takes real skill to construct a poem of above average length, keep consistency of flow, rhythm and content and sum the entire piece up nicely at the conclusion. With this poetic journey through life you have done just that. This reads a little like Dr. Seuss for adults in its rhythm and flow to me, and its a finely constructed dedication to your Dad.

Kudos on this one. Very well conceived work.

[danielle.]

I recited this at Dad’s funeral, you are not the first to make the Dr. Seuss comparison. This is my favorite piece so far. I’m pleased that you liked it. Thank you :)

[Chris Shaw]

A thought provoking poem about our journey through life. We enter with nothing, we leave with nothing. However we can leave a footprint behind us for our loved ones when we go. Love goes along way to being remembered. Kindness and compassion costs nothing. I like where your words took me. Thank you.

Chris

[danielle.]

Thank you Chris, this one is very close to my heart, I’m pleased that you got it xx

[Chris Shaw]

Then that pleases me also :)

[jacob erin-cilberto]

such movement...a passion to make a legacy, something for which we might be remembered....most of us here at the cafe...hope our poetry can be the tip we leave that might have our readers think of us from time to time.
this reminded me of a saying..what walks on four legs, then two, then three....
humans...and i like how you use the reversal back to the infant stage...when we age and age...we become like helpless infants once again...only without the innocence we started out with...
j.

[danielle.]

Thank you Jacob, I really appreciate your comments :) x