Destiny

DESTINY

A new poem by Jon van Leuven

No place is forever, not even a path.
Even if it leads on forever –
which can’t always be ascertained.
We need to look ahead, yet build the way,
and the way to the way, believing these will last
even when they no longer lead anywhere.
Stepping stones, pausing points, mere markers
of faith in the outcome are increments of infinity.

They take on a life of their own, whose sheer humility
helps them to endure while the end may not.
Their wear and tear appeal to what makes us human:
awareness of suffering and the urge to repair them
even though the repairs in turn are bound
to crumble and call for repairing. Ad infinitum.

This struck me on the trail to the hilltop,
disused and overgrown, its side walls split
by rain or roots at intervals, strewing rocks
so one hardly sees how to follow it further.
Ancient hoofprints, plodding in both directions,
show that ends exist, and indeed beginnings,
or did till lately. Possibly you yourself
forgot to pass through some day or night, sealing its fate.

Even Sisyphus wouldn’t know the start
from the sequel of fixing it, rolling back the rubble,
stamping the stubble, going to salvation’s trouble –
but for its being there, every inch, for the purpose.
Distinguishing, beat by heartbeat, a route from ruts
just filling up like time’s tooth feeding guts.