I walk a trail
That was blazed
By those who first
Visioned the destination
Of the journey

With sickle and saw
They cut a path
Through the thickets
Of the wood
First guided by a star
Then by the sun.

The hand soled shoes
Of all who followed
On that path
Packed the sod
Leaving a trail
That was unmistakable

Onward they traveled
On weary dusty feet
As brambles reached
Out to snare them,
Harsh winds threw
Branches and sometimes
Logs across their path

With strong wills
And faith to do
The impossible
They climbed over
Under, and through
Whatever obstacle
Was flung across
Their path

Their determination
Kept moving them
Forward
At times their feet
Moved slowly through
Wet clay swamp trails
Then struggling to mount
Vast hills

Hungry and tired
Thoughts of turning back
Sometimes crossed their minds
Yet then the vision of the journey's end
Persuaded them gently to go on
Sometimes temptation spoke
"Turn around go back!"
This thought was jarred by
The reality
The distance back
Was further
Then the distance home..