Return to Home Page Return to Anne Margetson Index THE PATH One day when I was still quite young I wondered far from home along a winding track. I gazed in awe at many unknown things, I felt no fear and did not want to turn back. As I tramped along the path a scene came to my view, For there deep within the valley lay a village truly fair, The light was fading and deepening shadows slowly grew, One by one tiny lights appeared and beckoned me there. I saw the smoke rise slowly from each neat chimney stack, They seemed to be inviting me,"Come lost child,come home" I spoke no word but hurried on forgetting to stay on track, They called and called but no nearer came I to those homes.   I stopped and called "Where are you now" I could no longer see The chimney's tall, and the shining lights I saw not at all. I scrambled back to the track I left and saw again the sight, But stuck to the path I knew was right, so I could not fall.   The lights in the valley still shone, they no longer called, I saw the welcoming chimneys and the smoke curling tall, I knew that the way I trod was the way that I should go And if I were to wander off the path, I would surely fall. When I got home all safe sound I told my tale out loud, My Father said "You did right to stay on the path you knew" He took me again along that path, up and down we trod, We looked and looked but my valley never came to view.   ANN MARGETSON Jan 26 1995