Show Him the Better Way

"The Upward Reach"

He stood at the crossroads all alone,

The sunlight in his face.

He had no thought for the world unknown—

He was set for a manly race.

But the roads stretched east, and the roads stretched west,

And the lad knew not which road was best;

So he chose the road that led him down,

And he lost the race and victor’s crown.

He was caught at last in an angry snare

Because no one stood at the crossroads there

To show him the better road.

Another day, at the self-same place,

A boy with high hopes stood.

He, too, was set for a manly race;

He, too, was seeking the things that were good;

But one was there who the roads did know,

And that one showed him which way to go.

So he turned from the road that would lead him down,

And he won the race and the victor’s crown.

He walks today the highway fair

Because one stood at the crossroads there

To show him the better way.

- by Sadie Tiller Crawley