MY PATH IN THE WOODS
I went for a walk
after the snow
and I knew others had been there before
for the path I was on
was well beaten down
and it held my attention
no more
For the path well-trod
leads to despair
and is surfaced with dusty schemes
The path I prefer
I'll carve it myself
and pave it with elegant dreams
Yes
I once walked there
on the path well-trod
but my footprints I never could find
for they were all mixed and mingled therein
with the others
I walked behind
So I left the path
and I walked in the woods
and when I turned I could see
the most beautiful trail there in the snow
created only by me
My trail wasn't straight
nor was it wide
it wandered where ever I pleased
but the beauty I saw
could never be seen
from that well-trod path through the trees
Alone in the woods
I shed a tear
and gave the Lord thanks that day
for just one thing He gave to me
-the courage
to break away
But the tear that I shed
wasn't really for me
‘twas for the many who fear to be free
from the well-trod path
that shackles their souls
and shrouds their destiny
For on the well-trod path
nothing can grow
save for a few dusty schemes
But on the trail you carve yourself
you'll find
the most elegant dreams
(IF YOU ENJOYED THIS POEM, DON'T MISS "THE EAGLE WITHIN" ON THIS SITE BY THE SAME AUTHOR)
MARTY RICKARD BIO
Marty RicKard attended William Penn College, Iowa State University and University of Southern Mississippi, from which he holds a BS degree in journalism and photojournalism. He also has a Masters Degree in photography. Marty was a technical writer for White Motor Company, and has worked for the Charles City Press, Mason City Globe-Gazette, and Davenport Times-Democrat. He owned New Sharon Star, where he was twice named Iowa Master Columnist. For ten years, Marty's regular column appeared in the Professional Photographer magazine. He has been published in many other magazines, including Golf Digest, Resource Magazine, Picture, Range Finder, and Darkroom. In addition to his writing credits, Marty has won numerous photography awards, has lectured in 48 states, and has traveled internationally as lecturer, and judge. He was one of thirty from the U.S. to participate in the first cultural exchange with China in 1986. He was a regular columnist for Lens Magazine, and is full-time writer of fiction and poetry. He has published three books.
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