I travel by the road at dawn,
The sunrise at my back,
Unaware in blissful youth
Of all the things I lack.
When day has broken, I press on
In a cardinal direction,
Unaware that I’m unguided
Save by pleasure and affection.
By noon I sweat and labor on
Beneath the sun I know,
Still the same despite the fact
It has a harsher glow.
Beyond that point I cannot see,
The sun filling my eyes,
And do not know that all I know
Is naught but youthful lies.
Then I lie down to rest myself
After the sun has gone
And wait until the sun returns
To blindly carry on.
What few have seen when journeying
Beneath the gold sun’s light
Is how the road’s a circle
Sloping gently to the right,
Still fewer will discover
(And even fewer learn)
Is whether we are blind or wise
When, to dawn, we must return.