Crossroads

Crossroads

A Poem by Pete

Image result for the crossroads

I stood at the crossroads of my life.
It had been a long road.
A hard road.
A long time coming.
Building up to a final capacious crescendo in my soul.
The final fallout from a nightmarish, nuclear armageddon.
A cold, barren wasteland lay to the North.
Haunting, heartbreak to the South.
A flood of terrifying, tears to the East.
Arid, disappointment to the West.
The only remaining life was from the dust of passing cars.
At least they knew where they were going.

I was tired.
Aching.
Devoid of dignity.
Wanted to lie down but that would just get me run over.
My moral compass no longer functioning.
I needed to go with the flow.
Get with the program.
Suck it up.
I decided to flip a coin at the paralyzing, painful intersection.
Whichever way it leaned would determine my path.
The coin spun in the air.
Glistened in the sun.
Basked in the breeze.
Just as my fate hung in the balance,
I was distracted by a flock of birds taking flight.
I heard the coin fall but chose to ignore it.

Rather than leave fate to chance,
 I decided to follow the birds of the air.
Because they know best.
They do not lie.
Are peaceful.
Content.
Singing.
Soaring.
Always landing on their feet,
no matter what.
They get what they need but not what they want.

I guess everything will be all right after all.
After the great fall.
Unmitigated gall.
I found ...
... at the crossroads ...

© 2017 Pete


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Featured Review

Indulging oneself in this masterful piece is quite easy to do. The photo reminded me of Tom Hanks in the movie Castaway, towards the end, when he was faced with what road to travel down.

You are an all-encompassing poet, Pete, and I am so glad to know you!

Posted 7 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Pete

7 Years Ago

thanks Kelly. that's a great movie and i am very pleased to make your acquaintance!



Reviews

This is amazing, Pete! Never stop writing. I feel like you can write a book with thousand of pages and I will never get tired of reading your words!

Posted 7 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Pete

7 Years Ago

what a wonderfully kind thing to say. thank you as always for your encouragement dear friend Gullia.. read more
Birds are brilliant for the messages they bestow, those crossroads sure know how to detach us from our real path ey? Amazing piece :)

Posted 7 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Pete

7 Years Ago

thank you P.R.S. i was thinking as i was writing the piece and was distracted by some birds. we hum.. read more
Ruth

7 Years Ago

There is, I agree, the swift is one of my totem animals, they remind me to adapt and be agile in lif.. read more
To look back in retrospect and be at peace with the path taken. There is a positive theme running through this piece, no matter the past your ever ready for the next page. A new journey and you take the wisdom of all you survived with you. Even if you flipped a coin is it really choice by chance or is it destiny ? Well done! thank you for sharing and God Bless

Sheer Terror

Posted 7 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

This comment has been deleted by the poster.
Pete

7 Years Ago

thanks Sheer. retrospect - that is a great word and you pose an interesting question. regardless, w.. read more
Indulging oneself in this masterful piece is quite easy to do. The photo reminded me of Tom Hanks in the movie Castaway, towards the end, when he was faced with what road to travel down.

You are an all-encompassing poet, Pete, and I am so glad to know you!

Posted 7 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Pete

7 Years Ago

thanks Kelly. that's a great movie and i am very pleased to make your acquaintance!
Even through the tragedy that permeates the beginning of the poem, I could feel the endurance of having arrived even to this point. I enjoyed reading it because it was written like a story and I felt I wanted to know more about what happened after the decision of following the birds, which turned the whole thing to being just magical and as it should be ... wonderful write Pete.... one of my favorites :)

Posted 7 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Pete

7 Years Ago

thanks Hebe. it feels unfinished because i do not yet know where those birds will ultimately take m.. read more
I enjoyed this poem. The eyes of my mind was moving throughout and everything just made sense. It had a great story. I liked how you followed the birds at the end. Birds can teach us a lot about life. My favorite part was when the coin flipped. Tyfs!

Posted 7 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Pete

7 Years Ago

i appreciate your thoughts. thank you C.V.D. best regards!
Cyprian Van Dyke

7 Years Ago

You're most welcome!

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Added on March 31, 2017
Last Updated on March 31, 2017

Author

Pete
Pete

Boston, MA



About
I love reading, writing, music, nature, God and feeling emotion, not necessarily in that order. To me, these things go hand in hand. My favorite writer is Henry David Thoreau. I think he was a geni.. more..

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