Down the Bumpy Path

Life is a path.

A bumpy one.

With rocks and weeds, and huge mounds of mud.

And rain, withe drizzling, dark thunder.

We walk along these paths.

And we trip in the stones that lay in wait for us.

They are Problems.

They cannot be avoided.

Wherever you go, they are there.

The trees around the path are dark and colourless, the branches bare.

The weeds around your feet lie, limp, lifeless.

Flowers.

None.

It is a sad and lonely Path.

But it is one that everyone must take.

There is no moon, sun or stars. There is only darkness.

And there is only sadness in your heart.

You feel lonely, afraid and nervous at each step you take.

No birds are singing,

No crickets are chirping,

No animals are living.

There is only ‘You’.

And then,

when you feel like giving up,

choosing another path,

turning around,

A black cat.

Silent.

Like the night.

At first, it seems a sign of misfortune.

Unlucky, unfortunate, much like the other things that are happening.

But then you see that it is only a cat.

A companion,

A Friend.

And suddenly the path,

the dark and lonely path,

turns into something a little kinder.

As you walk with your Friend.

The trees overhead grow glossy green leaves,

and sunlight filters in through the tall branches,

and the animals,

start talking to you.

The flowers are growing tall, beautiful, colourful,

and the path is different again.

And you turn around to see

the path you once walked on,

to say goodbye,

but it is not there anymore.

But with your Friend you are happy.

As the colours come and it is not black-and-white anymore,

you are happy.

The birds sing in the trees, 

and the ripe fruits fall from the plants that twist around the path,

Then you see someone walking on your path, your life,

And you love them.

Until one day,

they disappear into the ground,

And you are left there again, by yourself,

but you cannot remember, not anymore.

And when your feet hurt from walking,

your gnarled hands clutch at a cane,

and your back is bent and aching,

you will smile.

Because your life has come back.

The first Path.

You welcome the rain and the darkness,

and you smile each time the lightning cracks through the sky.

And when the time is right, when you are ready,

you will trip on a bump in the Path.

A small one.

And you will disappear, a smile on your face,

And you remember, what your life means,

That it is important,

That it is valued,

And no matter what your Path looks like,

You are loved.