Page 48 - My Creative Writing Portfolio

48

I TRAVELLED THROUGH A ROUGH ROAD

I travelled along a hilly, broken road—
a road scarred with potholes,
uneven, unpredictable.

Sometimes I found myself
in a pit,
sometimes in the mud—
jolted, shaken,
thrown off balance.

At times I stumbled forward,
at times I sauntered slowly,
pausing to steady my breath.

Meanwhile, my friends sped ahead
on straight and polished highways.
Their paths were smooth,
their destinations clearly marked.
From their elevated lanes
they could see me far below—
small, delayed,
insignificant.

But friends,
do not offer sympathy.
I am only ordinary—
and I accept that gladly.

I never wished to become mercenary,
never desired to mortgage my soul
for the promise of wealth.
Gold was never my compass.

Many avoid the rough road.
It is lonely.
It offers no applause.
It guarantees no arrival.

Yet I chose it—
or perhaps it chose me.