Poem Collection - MythOfHappiness - 10. The Path

I stop

In the middle of the path

I feel the sun

I breath in, long and deep

I feel the wind

It’s cool, and damp

And it ruffles my hair

And I smile

And I take a moment to myself

Before I have to walk on.

I look ahead,

The path stretches out before me

Long and winding,

And I can’t tell what’s behind the next bend

And I don’t know if I should be excited or terrified

I turn

and I look back

And I see where I’ve been,

Those long miles,

That I’ve already covered

I’m tired.

Seventeen years is a long time to walk

But then,

It’s not nearly as long as what's ahead of me

Not nearly as long as an entire lifetime

For a moment I debate leaving the path,

Turning and running

Though the brush, and trees

Going anywhere that isn’t here,

On this long, long path

For a moment I allow myself to wonder

What would my life be like

Without paths

Without direction

But only for a moment

And after that moment is done

I point myself back on the path

And I begin to walk

Heading towards whatever comes next

As my real life begins