III.

The Road

I have stumbled upon

a road not taken

looking past

there is no going back

The road is all there is

encapsulated by a sheet of fog

flanked by the field of crimson green

unattended for generations

The tall trees stand watch

are the only passersby you'll see

hanging low, kissing the road,

bulbs on their branches

shimmering your way ahead

Breeze of winds

are the only travellers you'll meet

dancing along the road,

sharing stories of those

who walked before you.

It's not a road, but a track

of mud, water, pebbles -

and some old cracked bulbs

You do not leave footprints here

You hear your thoughts

You see your dreams

morphing beside the pathway

The road is yours to walk

The path is yours to make

Don't stop when you

Take the lonely road

The only road.

Ayushmaan Mishra · 2024-01-28