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Open Poetry #10
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Kit McCallum
Administrator
Member Laureate
since 2000-04-30
Posts 14774
Ontario, Canada

0 posted 2000-10-18 07:17 AM


  The Road Less Traveled

  How often we must bear the challenges of life;  
     The endless roller-coaster between happiness and sorrow;  
        The constant ups and downs of daily strife.  
           And always the question remains .... why?  

  Life is not an easy road for most;  
     It twists and turns with many forks in the road,  
        Although always, and inevitably, we are given a choice ...  

  Do we turn to the right ... or the left?  
     Do we take the high road ... or the low road?  
        Do we take the easy path ... or the difficult one?  

  Decisions are not easy for those struggling for direction ...  
     And sometimes the many choices and signs become overwhelming.  

  While standing at a crossroads in life,  
     The urge is to take the most comfortable path;  
        The road with least resistance ...  
           The shortest or most traveled route.  

  And yet, if we've been down that comfortable road before;  
     Have gleaned its lessons in life, and learned from our experiences;  
        Do we yet again follow the known?  
           Or does our destiny lie in another direction?  

  The fear of the road less traveled is tangible and all too real;  
     It manifests itself in many ways,  
        And tends to cloud the issues that might otherwise be clear.  

  It is in these times of confusion,  
     That we must seek peace and solitude;  

  Time to contemplate on our life,  
     Our experiences and our choices past;  
        Time to look back, and reflect on what we have learned  
           Without fear or confusion.  

  For only each of us knows our own personal thoughts;  
     Our unique past and personal history;  
        The experiences that brought us to the crossroads we now face.  

  We can always learn a small degree from others experiences,  
     And yet ... no one person can walk in our shoes,  
        Others know not, the trials and tribulations faced in private ...  
           For each is individual ... unique ... and personal.  

  And that is why ... while standing at a crossroads,  
     Only "we" can formulate the decision for ourselves;  
        The true direction that lies within;  
           The choices we must deliberate on with clarity and wisdom.  

  For it is only through personal reflection,  
     That we can now choose our destiny;  
        ... Our next adventure;  
           ... And the future we will embrace.  


  /Kit McCallum

  *I posted this to the main site in early 1999

© Copyright 2000 Kit McCallum - All Rights Reserved
Mark Bohannan
Member Rara Avis
since 2000-06-21
Posts 7269
In the winds of Cherokee song
1 posted 2000-10-18 07:23 AM


Such beautiful wisdom filled words.  I love the format too..tis perfect for an Irishman.  I guess this means that I must walk my own road...and see what it holds huh?  
Kethry
Member Rara Avis
since 2000-07-29
Posts 9082
Victoria Australia
2 posted 2000-10-18 07:25 AM


Kit,
I can sooo relate to this, especially
Time to contemplate on our life,  
Our experiences and our choices past;  
Time to look back, and reflect on what we have learned  
Without fear or confusion.  
=============================================
and this
We can always learn a small degree from others experiences,  
And yet ... no one person can walk in our shoes,  
Others know not, the trials and tribulations faced in private ...  
For each is individual ... unique ... and personal.  
=============================================
and lastly this
For it is only through personal reflection,  
That we can now choose our destiny;  

Be well
Kethry


Growth demands a temporary surrender of security.
Gail Sheehy

Marsha
Deputy Moderator 1 Tour
Member Rara Avis
since 2000-07-10
Posts 7423
Maidstone Kent England
3 posted 2000-10-18 07:37 AM


Kit, this is full of wisdom and truth, and the choices we each make, are just that our choices. I really love this one, a really good poem.

(And my how easy it is to take the path that looks as if it may be a smooth ride.)
Take care
                   Marsha
                  

Robert Joseph
Member
since 2000-10-07
Posts 491
South Carolina
4 posted 2000-10-18 09:37 AM


And that is why ... while standing at a crossroads

At the crossroads, what an exciting place to be...great read, I enjoyed it very much!

Robert Joseph

SEA
Deputy Moderator 10 ToursDeputy Moderator 5 Tours
Moderator
Member Seraphic
since 2000-01-18
Posts 22676
with you
5 posted 2000-10-18 09:46 AM


Kit~ Standing at the crossroads......ahhh yes, so many choices..it seems the hardest ones have the best results. Excellent poem.   -SEA
Christopher
Moderator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-08-02
Posts 8296
Purgatorial Incarceration
6 posted 2000-10-18 11:51 AM


Kabam!!!

Nailed it with this one you did Kit!!!

Although always, and inevitably, we are given a choice ...  

ALWAYS a choice. I think many mistake the lack of a choice they want to be the same as lack of choice.

Well done lady! Kudos!

C

Kit McCallum
Administrator
Member Laureate
since 2000-04-30
Posts 14774
Ontario, Canada
7 posted 2000-10-19 10:33 PM


~Mark:  Thanks so much Mark, I'm glad it suited the Irishman in ya ... and yup, I'm afraid we all utlimately walk that road alone ... sigh ...  

~Kethrey:  Thank you for your thoughts and choosing the stanzas you enjoyed Kethrey, much appreciation!  

~Marsha: Thanks for the lovely words Marsha. It's often too easy to take the smooth path indeed. I actually wrote this for my sister, because she was about to make the "same mistake" yet again, and I couldn't bear to watch her go through it "yet again". She called me back in tears after I sent this to her, and ultimately, thought it through on her own. It got a good dialogue going.

~Robert: Exiting or terrifying ... sometimes it's hard to tell the difference, LOL! Thanks for enjoying Robert!  

~SEA:  I agree Sea ... the hardest ones do often have the best results, much appreciation!  

~Chris:  Well said Chris ... I think a lot of people do blur the lines and feel they have "no" choice, when that's far from the truth of it. They might just not "like" the choices they're presented with. Thanks for the wonderful words Chris!  

Much appreciation to all,
/Kit

Balladeer
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-05
Posts 25505
Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA
8 posted 2000-10-19 10:40 PM


Fantastic, Kit!! I think the question should be "why not?" instead of "why?" Life is simply a constant stream of decision making..that is what the challenge and the beauty of life is.. we should be thankful for challenges we face...they show us we have choices and a mind that can respond to them in an intelligent manner.

I chose to read this poem....sure glad I did!!!

Butterflies_dont_cry
Member Elite
since 2000-03-06
Posts 3733
Michigan
9 posted 2000-10-19 10:43 PM


So many roads...so many choices...so little
time    I enjoyed all the avenues you
explored in this piece..great work~

Denise
Moderator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-08-22
Posts 22648

10 posted 2000-10-19 10:45 PM


Me too! Very well done, Kit! Filled with wisdom!

Denise

Elizabeth
Deputy Moderator 1 TourDeputy Moderator 1 Tour
Moderator
Member Ascendant
since 1999-06-07
Posts 6871
Minnesota
11 posted 2000-10-19 11:00 PM


Chris said it all...well done Kit!

Elizabeth


Something sweet, something sort of grandish, sweeps my soul when thou art near...
hedeservesbetter@hotmail.com


Temptress
Moderator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-06-15
Posts 7136
Mobile, AL
12 posted 2000-10-19 11:02 PM


YES! YES! YES! I love this! It speaks truths well!!
I enjoyed this very much.  

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