THE PERILOUS ROAD

By John Thomas Tuft

The eagle soaring in a cerulean sky

Looks down at the bear with a practiced eye

But neither ponders any questions of why

That perilous road belongs to you and I.

Consider the ant crawling through endless sands

Or the spider weaving endless strands

Neither considers themselves owners of lands

Or travels the perilous road on which love stands.

The horse galloping with abandon through the grass

The whale leaping from the waters for the joy of the splash

Both accepting the journey, no dwelling in the past

Or the perilous road beyond death insisting that our lives last.

The mountain goat considers the rock and knows it’s to climb

The honeybee considers success with flower and vine

Both consider life to be lived without doubt in mind

For our perilous road of life, we insist on meanings to find.

A baby is born ready to learn life is to savor

Touch what is to feel, taste that which is flavor

When there is danger do all one can to save her

For the perilous journey we insist on being owed some divine favor.

But what if the bear and the eagle know more than we believe

And the ant and the spider, goat and whale are the ones living free

And the horse always remembers to be grateful for the bee

While we are humbled by the perilous road teaching us on bended knee.