Lost

I was on a road, on a journey
The world my companion
A lost couple, a decided few
The rest in blinding oblivion

Among the lost I was, and haunted
I felt, knowing there was a place
There are ways, paths plethora
Not knowing which, to that place, takes.

To the past I was chained,
To the Future, addicted
To the Present but blinded
And in confusion I had drowned

Lost I was, no doubt
Lost I had been, no wonder
For at a point of paths three
My instinct did but stutter

The path first seen was
That well trodden, well defined
Respected was he who travelled
Upon it, that place you reached

Second the path was wide
Less trodden upon it had been
Respect it commanded, though
A survivor yet to be seen



For this path though wide,
Was an infant in age, with none
That had traversed upon it could
Claim of having seen the sun

Whether the traveler would
Fall into that pit of looming darkness or
Reach that place of light and joy
Was beyond our knowingness

And yet travelers it had, a select few
For knowledge was necessary
To guide those curious, chiefly for respect
Some for pleasure, some for reasons arbitrary

And then there lay that path other
That which capture my heart and mind
That lay unworn by foot steps
For respect was not its kind

Overgrown it was, weeds of ignorance
Lay strewn, underneath lay the way
The few who took effort, broke their backs
Uncovered that path, feebly seen to the light of day

That the path that lead you to conquer
Self and other, mind and manner
That the path that enticed my curiosity
Challenged my mind and captured my wonder

At that crossroad did I stand
Looking at those pathways three
Looking behind at the people dazed
Looking again at my choices free


Hands that led me till here point down
To that road new, that road infantile
For they found comfort in my walking
On that road at least a mile

My fingers urged my feet down
That path overgrown, mysterious and alluring
Brave I was to think it a choice, they said
For apparently that wasn’t my calling

Amidst this confusion was a hand another
Knew not to guide me but comfort
A silent promise it bore, either way take you
Holding you I’m there, t’ was curt

That the hand was there made
No difference to my strife
But that the hand was there made
All that difference in my life

Too long I stood at those crossroads three
‘Cos down was I pushed that path new
Respect, said the pushing hands
I was pushed, ‘tis true.

Now I find a way strange, so different
From the rest, alienated felt I
Swallowed by loneliness but deserted by tears
The hand that remained saying, don’t cry.