Tuesday 19 August 2014

POETRY JAM - PATH

“Understand that the right to choose your own path is a sacred privilege. Use it. Dwell in possibility.” - Oprah Winfrey

Poetry Jam this week has the theme of “Path” as its stimulus for all contributors who choose to respond to this creative writing challenge. While lots of ideas came into my mind when considering the topic, the most obvious is what generated the poem you see below as my contribution (with obvious inspiration from Robert Frost):

The Path not Chosen

And I wonder what would have happened
Had I taken that other path?
A life lived differently, is another life,
Another's life, after all.

Would all have been better, brighter,

And the other me, happier?
My memories different, memories strange
A stranger's memories, after all.

Would I still be living or now dead,

Had I trodden a different path?
My choices disparate, a wealth of options unexplored,
Someone else's selections, after all.

And yet the path I follow,

Has given joys, as well as sorrows;
I've stepped on roses, not only thorns,
I've heard sweet songs, not just dirges,
After all, my path has been eventful.

The path not chosen, may have promised much,

But life is a great leveller,
And mixes dark and light, honey and poison;
It's up to us to make of our path a smooth one,
After all, I am grateful for my choice.

22 comments:

  1. i am glad i dont have the power to go back and change those choices...the path not travelled can have quite the allure, but we dont think about what it would be like beyond...we create fantasy that has little to do with a true reality....

    ReplyDelete
  2. this thought of 'what would have been' visits almost everyone and most of the time the sense of good judgement prevails and one is happy for having the path chosen.."It's up to us to make of our path a smooth one," this is most important and wise...a nice write Nick....thanks for participating :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. This is very thought provoking and sometimes when i think of roads not taken i always go back to the movie, "Run, Lola, Run" Being content in our choices is a God given security. Great poem.

    ReplyDelete
  4. It's up to us to make of our path a smooth one,
    After all, I am grateful for my choice.

    The 'what if' game can be interesting to reflect upon. It could have been worst. But one feels protected when still alive and kicking! Great lines Nicholas!

    Hank

    ReplyDelete
  5. A wonderful poem, Nicholas. You may have been inspired by Frost, yet there is a difference here, in your poem where you say that ultimately, the path taken is not of importance, it is what you yourself make of it.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Nicholas, as I have reflected on my life and the paths I could have taken, I wouldn't really change anything. You're right...if a person had taken a different path, one would now be living a different life. Who knows where one might be? Perhaps in a totally different 'life.' I think even the hardships endured have all brought me to the place I am now, and though I didn't enjoy the hardships probably if I had not gone through them I wouldn't be where I am today...in a happy contented place. My path was the 'right' path for me. I hope everyone believes that really rather than living with regrets.

    ReplyDelete
  7. You have me wondering now. Would a different life be another's life? I suppose it would be. What we live and go through shape us as much as the circumstances we are born in. And I hope that when I come to see the end of my life, I can be grateful for the paths chosen.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I think we all think these "what-ifs" at some point in our lives. I find more peace trudging ahead one step at a time.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Love the reflections in the end ~ We all have ifs and what could have been, but its important to remember:

    It's up to us to make of our path a smooth one ~ Good one ~

    ReplyDelete
  10. There is so much truth in this.. we cannot dwell too much on what we did in the in the past.. Reflecting to be able to make better choices at the next divide is another thing.. and yes every path is filled with brambles and thorns.. lovely thoughts

    ReplyDelete
  11. I am pleased that you have chosen the right path for yourself.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Kind of dizzying to think of all the paths not taken along the way, all the people we might have been. Lovely photo too.

    ReplyDelete
  13. When I reflect back on my life, the words of your poem fit so well. Excellent write

    ReplyDelete
  14. Lovely poem! I like the line of the path we take is what we ourselves make of it.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Excellent capture of thoughts we all have--the "what ifs"...and yet it is as you said in the end, love that line I've stepped on roses, not only thorns. Beautiful

    ReplyDelete
  16. Great poem, well done. I like its path. Have you ever seen cars in a traffic slowdown where people are jumping lanes, trying to get ahead? And in the end they are either behind you or beside you again? Their path didn't lead to anywhere better or even different...they were just a wreck trying to get there. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  17. Yes, life is indeed the great leveler. I enjoyed this!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Love this Nicholas. It is so thought provoking and has a beautiful message. I think we all could ponder this....the what ifs of life, but what happens is what is meant to, and even the negative parts play a part.

    ReplyDelete
  19. I have shared a lot of these same musings on life, Nicholas. But, as you write "life is a great leveller" no matter what path we take, I think, for we are, all of us, mortal.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Why not walk back and try the other path now? :P
    Magnificently written, yes it comes down to the choices we make, doesn't it?

    ReplyDelete
  21. Great poem, like the way you have structured it, with the returning 'after all' phrase.

    ReplyDelete
  22. i have so often wondered the same thing but have no regrets at the path that has led me to where I am now

    ReplyDelete