Date Posted:11:33:38 09/06/01 Thu Author: WindWalker Subject: RESPONSIBILITY
RESPONSIBILITY
A man sets forth on his own journey
as newly fallen snow drifts eerily around
spreading in waves over a rugged land
unmarked by trail or track.
In slanted radiance, the pale noonday sun
breaks through greying skies,
splashing through white winter's silence
and for a brief moment
he senses a breath of spring from afar,
a memory of green leaves touches him.
As he ponders his choices and direction,
squinting in the landscape's brightness,
the wind whispers in the hood of his parka;
a voice which penetrates to his soul:
"Your life is much like stepping forth
through these drifting snows.
Tread carefully on their unsigned paths
lest ye lose yourself in this labyrinth
or lest some less experienced ones
seek to follow in your bold steps,
for as you know the shelter of the trees leaves a trail:
anyone fool enough to may well follow
your first steps etched on the edge of the forest.
These may sadly come to grief, or meet with death.
Remember that not even in this great wilderness
is a man an island unto himself... You
are still your brother’s keeper out here
alone on these wind-swept ridges.”
