Once was a time
The path seemed
Straight and narrow
Far as my eyes could see
Entered a doubt
A fear
Indecision
Possibility compounded
Upon improbability
Chaotic grid of no means forward
So stop
Reconsider
Unwind the improbable
Evaluate the possible
Quell the fear and doubt
Make a choice
Then another
Build upon choices
Until trust defines a path
Stillness in dark, dense forest
Light trickles through the canopy
Enough to cast shadows of utter black
In near blackness
Trees and roots form vague outlines
A maze of a path
Upon a maze for footfalls
I stumble my way
In a direction which seems
Forward
Progress slow
Or futile
I do not know
No matter
If futile
Step back
Seek another path
In this sense
All paths lead to the light
Failure is to remain complacent
In the darkness
Though journeys be fraught
With pitfalls and wanderings
Know the beauty of the path
That the pitfalls and wanderings
Make the path beautiful
That serenity finds its moments
The master told her students
This is the path to enlightenment
“But it is so straight”, one replied
True, said the master
“I expected the path to be difficult!”
The straight path is difficult
“How can it be?
There are no mountain passes to find!
No intersections or forks to choose from!
No sharp curves to negotiate!”
Many students nodded their agreement
The master shook her head
The straight path is difficult because
You want to climb mountains
You expect there to be many paths to choose from
You believe there should be sharp changes in direction
One student had sat quietly through all this
Listening while looking straight down the long path
As far as she could see
Finally, she spoke
“Walking the straight path is impossible
For one who seeks insight
From every roadside attraction”
The master smiled
I am your student!
When the paths to exalted places
Seem paved with broken asphalt
Through blighted landscapes
I am left to wonder
A test of my resolve
To achieve exaltation
Or testimony
To the destination’s character
Big bend in the river comin’ up!
No idea what’s around it
Can’t even see the turn all that clear
Or what’s just ahead fer that matter
No matter
We done plenty a these
Always works out
Usually fer the better
I suppose there’ll be
Remarkable new things to discover
Around that corner
All kinds of possibilities
Don’t worry none about the fog
Things’ll be clear enough once we get close
Just the way the corner up ahead
Is gettin’ clear enough to know the turn
Kinda pretty idn’t it?
The way the fog only gives ya part a the picture
Then just the green
Then trees and the cracks in rocky cliffs
Ya only get enough to know how to move on
With some foreshadowin’
Of just how beautiful it’s gonna be
When it all becomes clear
He saw change coming
Had to come
Life altering change
Had to be
He’d come to a cul de sac
Every step now
Just circled the perimeter
But what next?
What path led forward?
He had no idea
All he had
Was a little sparkle
Of hope
Enough for the confidence
To step out of the circle
I prefer the kind of spirituality
Which harbours no intention
To make me feel small
Or subject to the judgment of others
Not even gods
Just as I have no desire
To judge anyone
Not even myself
A condition
Which I am ever on the path
Of unlearning
The winding path
Which takes me well beyond
Desired goals
Has served me well
Offered possibility
Once well outside my ken
Comforts challenged
Bound’ries shattered
With every step astray
From oft trod trails
Discover unknown countries
Within myself
A lesser man would I be
Who’d stayed the straight and narrow course
To some place known
When I’d set out
Oft times the path ahead
Seems crystal clear and straight
Still I proceed with caution
Keep my eye upon the road
For sudden curves unforeseen
For living things which cross the lane
For side roads leading from the route
Some could throw me from my course
And I could lose my way
Some may form a barrier
Force me to a halt
Some may lead me far astray
Distract me from my goals
Some may offer opportunity
A better route to go
And which of these
I may not know
Until I drive
Some many miles beyond
Pix to Words 