going my way -

thick mist … breath of dusk … bearing its own tales the yellow bricks wind away swallowed by the brume fallow footprints, long since faded but I cared not to trace them anyway ... vacant souls searching for the most basic of virtues leading another young pilgrim to fates unknown ... and unnoted (the fog itself endows more guidance) … they never returned. crossroads ... proverbial AND actual my instructions were clear, as always the counsel, lucid and lettered yet life has never borne the conventional courses for me ... naught a prevailing wind or timid tack to weigh … regrets? real as rain ... but they bear conscience and wisdom - grateful, am I, for each. night … is closing in like a promise the forest, deep, yawns forsaken the lad in me longs for a sweet dream - a fanciful lullaby and final blink of lashes, soft … but ambition is a jealous mistress and she wrings complacency and excuse from the hems of my spirit - legacy and contrition dance the dark like fireflies love's wages howl in the night chilling my thoughts, my marrow ... my blood. the choice … was made for me, long ago … before these serpentine paths were packed and paved, the placement of my steps was ordered … that road untraveled - of red brick and border was written at time's inception upon the binding of my soul and there shan't be another ... going my way. ~ 1st Place ~ in the "Best Free Verse July 1 - October 1" Poetry Contest, John Hamilton, Judge & Sponsor.