This is called an epistle, or letter, poem.

Corners And Crossroads


To corners and crossroads:

Journeys....
life's ribbons of winding experiences
and obscure pathways...
fence-lined and litter-strewn
with often unclaimed souvenirs
of where I've been.

Pausing in my travels,
I find a park bench of hesitation,
an rather uncomfortable seat of reflection.
Behind me lay the maze
of years gone by,
measured by unexpected turns and hairpin curves,
sharp corners which demanded quick thinking...
and I wonder about choices made-
if perhaps at times I'd mistaken fate's handiwork
for my own bad decisions.
So many crossroads along the way,
each asking me to give more
than I thought I could.. and all for what?

Was it simply to find myself
at this place, sitting upon this very bench
in contemplation?
My gaze turns to those journeyed paths
and I feel the breeze of acceptance
sweep across my soul, whispering..
always whispering..
"I didn't get to where I am the easy way..
but I did get here MY way."
No, it has not always been easy
but would I have taken
the simpler path?
I think not as my stubbornness
would have deemed such choice
not even to be considered.

I gather my thoughts
as time nudges me onward,
reminding me that though reflection is a fine thing,
it must not be dwelled upon.
Too much of my life is still to come, still to be lived.
But as I begin the next chapter of this journey,
I send my thanks to those corners
and crossroads of the past
for leading me into the future
and allowing me to get there MY way.

Signed,
Simply a traveler

P.S. If you happen to see those bridges I've crossed though,
could you thank them for me?
I have burned so many of them along the way
that I think a third party 'thank you' might be best.
I am not sure how forgiving bridges are, after all.
Thank you, sat


April 2005