The Road
you are standing in the middle of a road
it's common knowledge
that since the completion of its construction
no vehicle has ever traversed this road
in the nearby village and surrounding
area, talk has always been that
no one has ever driven anything
down this road and unless walking,
to stay away because of its hazards
in fact, the road is often the butt of jokes
because of the difficulties it presents
for ease of travel and the wisdom of anyone
driving it
certainly it is not an easy road even though
it will take you to a definite destination,
it appears unlikely you'll get there unscathed
this is because it runs beside
a tremendous waterfall and almost
immediately after the road's construction,
the river's course was diverted which
took it along side this road
the waterfall kicks up a shrouding fog
from the mist of its voluminous flow
You can hardly see your hand,
if stretched out to arm's length,
let alone see to drive with anything
but trust that those who built it
and keep it open
will have it take you where you need to go
the waterfall thunders with a deafening
din as it impacts
this shakes the earth all around
the mist is so dense all you can smell
is its suffusion thick in the air
while standing there, you see a man
emerge from the fog walking along side
this road
he shouts to you as he walks past
"you better get out from the middle of the road
because a large truck is making its way down
and you're going to get squashed like a bug!"
you wave him off and dismiss it safe
in all that common knowledge has
ever told you
the man, stumbling
along the side of the road
as he walks,
fades away in the fog
you can see no truck
you cannot hear any truck
you cannot even contrast a truck's
vibration of the road
you cannot smell exhaust or fumes
all you can tell from your senses and all
you've ever read, been told
and experienced of this road
is either this lone man knows nothing
of what he speaks
or is attempting to make you
like the fool
what would the villagers say
besides, it's much more difficult to walk the narrow
passage along side than it is the wide, smooth expanse
out in the road as has been the custom
you will decide what you do
you will not decide what happens
it's common knowledge
that since the completion of its construction
no vehicle has ever traversed this road
in the nearby village and surrounding
area, talk has always been that
no one has ever driven anything
down this road and unless walking,
to stay away because of its hazards
in fact, the road is often the butt of jokes
because of the difficulties it presents
for ease of travel and the wisdom of anyone
driving it
certainly it is not an easy road even though
it will take you to a definite destination,
it appears unlikely you'll get there unscathed
this is because it runs beside
a tremendous waterfall and almost
immediately after the road's construction,
the river's course was diverted which
took it along side this road
the waterfall kicks up a shrouding fog
from the mist of its voluminous flow
You can hardly see your hand,
if stretched out to arm's length,
let alone see to drive with anything
but trust that those who built it
and keep it open
will have it take you where you need to go
the waterfall thunders with a deafening
din as it impacts
this shakes the earth all around
the mist is so dense all you can smell
is its suffusion thick in the air
while standing there, you see a man
emerge from the fog walking along side
this road
he shouts to you as he walks past
"you better get out from the middle of the road
because a large truck is making its way down
and you're going to get squashed like a bug!"
you wave him off and dismiss it safe
in all that common knowledge has
ever told you
the man, stumbling
along the side of the road
as he walks,
fades away in the fog
you can see no truck
you cannot hear any truck
you cannot even contrast a truck's
vibration of the road
you cannot smell exhaust or fumes
all you can tell from your senses and all
you've ever read, been told
and experienced of this road
is either this lone man knows nothing
of what he speaks
or is attempting to make you
like the fool
what would the villagers say
besides, it's much more difficult to walk the narrow
passage along side than it is the wide, smooth expanse
out in the road as has been the custom
you will decide what you do
you will not decide what happens
Written by Scott Schoffstall
© October 15, 2011
all rights reserved
http://www.poeticsojourn.com/the-sojourner.html
© October 15, 2011
all rights reserved
http://www.poeticsojourn.com/the-sojourner.html