‘Twas Many A Road…
A Texas Hill Country Road
(Source: Hill Country Motorcycle Rentals, Austin, Texas @ tourbikerent.com)
And many a country dirt road…I took…made of gravel.
When the car door swings open…and you must set out on foot to see things clear-ly’…
Smells and sights open up before you…’til you see that which before…you didn’t see.
The modern world adorns itself with paved roads and enclosed cars…we take for granted…
There was a time not long ago…when animal’s feet or our own…moved us across the planet.
Man has come along way…in a very short time…
But the Future lies ahead…on that Mankind may still lag behind.
We must look to where we are going…Step out…and take a good look around…
If we’re not welcome where we’ve been…We can shake the dust off…as we leave town.
Oh…I treasure the time…when my only thought was what lie ahead…
On a quiet and still road I walked…my thoughts were like the ones I dream in bed.
Nothing else mattered…Nothing could disturb…
I’d like to explain it thoroughly…if I can find the right adverb.
The sun was melting the dust…before it reached up to the clouds…from the heat…
The dry weeds around crackled in the warm breeze…the ground was hot beneath my feet…
The cricket was madly chirping at the sun…while the raven was looking for something to eat…
A copperhead was sunning his backside on the road…and slithered away…so we would not meet.
And there…right there…it occurred to me…that it is OK for the world to be serene…
Out there on a distant country road…the quietness played out an epic scene.
We talk and beat the world into our submission…
With or with out anybody else’s permission.
The world must go our way…
But the world went mine…on a gravel dirt road that day.
You see…I had time to think…I had time to be thankful to just be there…
How many times along our journey…do we stop to think…or begin to care ?
We can find ourselves when we aren’t looking…in a place we set out to find…
But we will never make it into our future…if we forget what we left behind.
Ya’ know…the world kept on spinning while I was walking…and eventually reached my destination…
The world was doing its own thing…It did not have to stop for me…there was no obligation.
The world is a relatively simple place…So sorry to have to inform…
It has been doing its own thing…Well…since long before any of us were born.
We are along for the journey…We must sit back and enjoy the ride…
We are not here because it is all about us…Gee, hope that don’t hurt your pride.
It is Ok to be human…to get down a road using our own two feet…I must say…
I love an ol’ country gravel dirt road that I can walk along…on any ol’ given day !
‘Twas many a road I was able to travel…
And many a country dirt road…I took…made of gravel.
Rodney Atkins – Take A Back Road
But the world went mine…on a gravel dirt road that day.”
Hello…and Thanks for readin’ this one! Here’s to hoping that you have some time to “Stop and Smell the Roses”…Even if there aren’t any to be found…while walking around…looking at the ground. Like, say along an old gravel road.
Best Regards,
Steve Walters
Or the Artist Still Known As: ManlyPoetryMan
© 2010 ManlyPoetryMan (Originally)
~~~
Steve Walters -joined TCE in the Fall of 2021. Keep an eye on his author page for many great works to come.
https://www.creativeexiles.com/author/stevew/You can also find works by Steve Walters (who uses the pen name of ManlyPoetryMan) on: ManlyPoetryMan on HubPages. https://hubpages.com/@manlypoetrymanAnd on Manly Poetry Man’s website: Home | Manly Poetry Man
Enough of that intro. It is really great to be writing here on: "The Creative Exiles". I am lining up some of my best writings for this website. Going to "Bring-it" with a variety of "Poetic-able" Topics. So just kick back and enjoy some of the Poetry I send out to you. It’s all for “Entertainment” purposes only…so all you will have to do is read and enjoy my writings.
And, I really hope you do!
Now, it is time for me to go and write in a "Poet-icized" manner like those long ago “Men of Old” Poets would’ve once long ago done it. They have primarily inspired me to write Poems in a manner that is “Manly” like how they use to write Poetry.
Please stay tuned for more of my Poetry works.
Best and Humble Regards, Steve Walters
(Or the Artist still known as: Manlypoetryman)
- A Postcard for the Moment - February 28, 2025
- Whispers…From Above - February 28, 2025
- Alumni of the Planet Earth - April 26, 2024
Steve, thank you for writing this wonderful piece. I enjoyed reading and felt I was right there with you on those roads. Being out in nature on our own is a glorious way to spend time. Well done.
Thank you so much for reading it! Being out in Nature is definitely a glorious way to spend time. Out where you can escape the maddening hustle and bustle of many a paved road. Out where it is just you and your own two feet to move you along. Out where you can only occupy your mind with all the natural things around you. That is when the World goes your way for a change. (For Sure!) Appreciate your great comment! Humble Regards.
I felt like I have journeyed down many of the same roads. While going through life I cannot count how many times I just decided to take off onto a dirt road with questionable end. Most of the experiences were worthwhile. Nice poem Steve Happy Spring! Jamie
Aaaah…to take the scenic route…down an old dirt road. No telling what you might find? Especially, if you ain’t really looking. Just admiring where you are at…and probably being disconnected from the things of this World that we do (all the time)…that are less personal than walking out-alone-on an insignificant old dirt road. Detached from car and phone…and perhaps others…as well. Just free to get down the road. No more…No less. Kind’a wish I was out walking down one now…with nothing but stars around…to guide me. Humble Regards.
Great philosophy, Steve! Too few of us stop to look around. I try to take in my surroundings wherever I am. The world is too precious and inspirational to ignore.
This is a timely reminder to stop and smell the roses. Good flowing rhythm just following the road!
Thanks for reading this one, Ann…and for your great comment. The world is a precious and inspirational place…like you said…no matter where we happen to find ourselves. We all have to stop and smell the roses…even in the small things that we do. The ones that don’t seem to have too much significance. Later on in life…we can come to see how that one little moment in an insignificant place…came to define us at our inner-most core…of who we are!
Beautiful poetry, Steve. You said so many wise things in it. We cross many paths in our lives, but not all of them are good and safe, but I believe they are important to us, so God allows us to walk on those paths. There are always some roses around us, sometimes we may just not stop to smell and feel them. There are always difficult and beautiful paths, but we should never forget to be strong and brave in any situation we find ourselves in. At the end of the day, I think everyone in the world is so busy with their stuff, but there are some very kind and beautiful people in this world who care about other people. We can change ourselves, but we can never change others around us, I believe. I agree with you, ‘We are not here because it is all about us’.
I loved these lines :
“We must look to where we are going… Step out…and take a good look around…
If we’re not welcome where we’ve been… We can shake the dust off…as we leave town.”
Thank you for sharing. Happy Easter and a blessed spring to you and your family.
Sending Blessings your way today.
Misbah…Thank you for your comment! (And for reading this one.) We do cross many paths in our lives…some when we set out to just get down the road…and then find out along the way…that the path turned into an unexpected journey. One we may never forget. Or, one we may learn from. Thanks for getting into the Spirit of the Poem with your gracious comment. I believe God allows us to “walk-out” our paths…kind’a like you stated. There is much to learn…down a simple ol’ country gravel road. Much to learn about ourselves and much to learn about this World. We can find ourselves…when we weren’t looking! Humble Regards.