"I Was Walking Down a Path"
I was walking one day down a path
That was straight and unbent and true.
Buildings and cranes rose above my head like trees
But I had no thought, I hadn’t met you.
On that path long and clear, I ran into another,
Who stopped and stared and smiled.
I slowed my steps, then continued as I had
Left with an impression of a love that was mild.
I reached a curve in the way that made my steps falter,
I looked and turned and thought
But followed it ploddingly under a row of windows
And around a corner until I caught
Sight of a face I swore I knew, and eyes that
Glittered and laughed and danced
So that I could not help but join in
And we continued down that path laid out by chance.
The longer we walked, the closer we pulled
Like a leaf in an eddy, a foot sunk in mud, a moth in a flame,
And as night fell, I found myself
On a strange path with a strange name.
My light had gone out, the path had forked, but you were there,
Straight and unbent and true.
But I prayed for rain to come because I had not
The strength to leave you.
The clouds opened up, and the moon was obscured, and the sky
Rolled and rumbled and shook
And sheets of water loosed from heaven
And one last look at you, I took
You looked at me, and I saw your eyes
Dim and fade and blink
One step back, and the rain hid you.
I reached out, and I felt myself sink.
Alone in the downpour, a warm light fell on me
I looked around and up, and there
A street light had been lit, and under it
A straight path was visible in the watery air.
I was walking one night
Tired alone and wet
But now the path is straight again
I may reach my destination on time yet.