PATHS By Jack Cooper

Below is a poem written by my Father when he was 85 years old.

PATHS

By Jack Cooper 

©2010

The other night as I lay in bed, thought after thought danced through my head.

I laid there wondering where I’d be today had I taken another path during my early journey’s way.

Have you ever wished you could go back in time? Start all over again when you were in your prime?

If I had taken that path I bypassed before  - heaven only knows what might’ve been in store.

I might’ve made it big on the stage or screen – Maybe won an Oscar in the Hollywood scene.

I was good at sports – at the top of my game. Had I stuck to that path – might I been in the Hall of Fame?

 I loved to travel, explore foreign lands  - maybe search for treasure buried deep in the sand.

Or taken the High Sierra road  -  I might’ve found that Mother Lode!

If I studied harder to become more wise  -  I might’ve been a scientist, won the Nobel  Peace Prize.

Ah, yes, if only I’d taken a different lane - I might have wound up with fortune and fame.

I leaned back on my pillow and pondered some more. Then dozed off to sleep – back to the days of yore.

Instead of dreaming of glory and fame - my dreams took me down a perilous lane.

I was on a path that that led into harm’s way  - leading me only toward danger and dismay.

No Hall of Fame, no big prize – no award.  No treasure chest found washed up on the shore.

I was lonely and homeless and roaming the streets  -  Begging for food with no place to sleep.

I woke up and I sat on the edge of my bed  -  shaking and sweating from my toes to my head.

I sat for a moment glancing around the room  -  trying to clear my head of the misery and gloom.

With a sigh of relief I realized how lucky I’ve been  -  that I did take the right path way back when.

I’ve struggled at times with some bumps along the way. But I’ve made it safely to where I am today. 

I’m blessed with a family I’d  never trade  away - and have wonderful friends I’ve met along the way.

One may choose to be happy – or envious and sad - left dreaming of the treasures you might’ve had.

But I do have my treasures on this glorious day!  I just have to look at things in a much different way.

Tomorrow will be the beginning of another day  - I just hope I choose the right path along my long journey’s way.