The Long Road

The Long Road
By Matthew Foley

I see you there, standing by the crossroads,
studying the signs and reading the stars,
seeking the direction of a life that is yet to be…
wondering which way, O which way, should my feet point today?

Listen for a moment,
for these feet have felt the dirt of many a wrong path,
these boots have trod many a reckless misstep to be sure,
and those cracked and beaten roads ahead,
where all passion has gone out of the earth,
I too have wasted many a day walking those weary miles.

But for everyday I lived my passion, those days I do not regret.
Everyday I spoke boldly the truth of my soul,
that day I hold like a precious pearl in my memory.

On those days,
I lived like a wave, roaring with the rolling life of the sea,
begging no forgiveness for my right to breathe.

On those days,
I lived like a star, hiding not my fires in a universe gone dark,
for my soul was a candle that did not flicker or fade.

On those days,
I lived as a world, complete, and ushering all life into one,
as one as the different rivers of the world are but one rolling water,
as the separate nations of the earth are but one soil
sprouting but one family of life.

Take the long road, O wanderer, the long road of your passion.
Walk this one earth and breathe this one air,
and serve this one family of life with your fires of your passion.
Take the long, open road and walk it every day of your life.
Take the long road, O wanderer, the long road of your passion.

Matthew Foley is an English & Creative Writing teacher at the Charleston Charter School for Math & Science. When he’s not trying to make 7th graders fall in love with books & poetry, you can find Matt on Wednesdays hosting the Open Mic Poetry Night at The 827 art gallery in Avondale. Matt was also a recent feature poet at East Bay Meeting House’s Monday Night Poetry & Music series.  Find Matt on Facebook.