Path Less Talked

This day I walked On the path less talked No one was seen If you – understand what I mean Yet, at the end Yes, right after the bend There stood a man With a rather absurd tan Before me he stood Giving a smile that appeared quiet good “Are you naked, child.” he said In which, I tell you, I turned rather red Stepping before me, I noticed his suit Not a cloth about him, not even a boot Yes, he was quiet bare This sight, true, was more than rare He eyed me up and down And soon bore only a frown “Suits and clothes, my friend?” And all I could say, “It’s the trend.” Soon his laughter filled the air Shaking things, that laid all too bare Instinctively I adverted my eyes Yet, this was only to my surprise Off my back, my shirt did come Like leather snapped off of it’s drum “No need you have for this, this day.” Gasping, I growled, “for that you will pay.” “With what,” he teased “You have nothing,” I had agreed “Wrong, child.  I have all I need.” Immediately, I dis-agreed “Why do you need a shirt?” Easy I thought, “to be free of dirt” “Is it not to fit in?” Halted I stared, only for him to give a grin “And why have you pants and shorts?” “Well, they are a protection of sorts” “And why do you need these things, This isn’t even counting your rings.” “Well, simply put friend, you just can’t hang free” “So, if you can’t be free, then what can you be?” “No, I am free, good friend” “Yes, you were, till you walked about that bend” “Are you saying, I’m not free?” “Well, what else can you be?” “I can be myself, friend, Someone to whom I can tend.” At this, I had thought I’d beaten the naked man Looking at him, wondering why he had not ran Raising his eyebrow, he chuckled at me Now, without warning, my pants fell free “And still, you do not hang free” he laughed Yet, all I could feel was the unpleasant draft Quickly, I responded, “I do not need to hang free, to be free.” “Great, you’re learning!” The bare man exclaimed as if he were three “Yes, that I must be me.” “That is, if you wish to remain free.” Thinking I replied, “oh, yes, of course.” “Now, you’re a man who has his own course.” After giving it a thought I soon removed all things I’ve bought Removing the rings of my worth Exposing things hidden since my birth Undoing my boots, laces quickly unlacing I’m sure the man thought I meant to be racing Yet, the entire time he just smiled Assuring me, that I had not just been beguiled Now was the moment, where I would become free Dropping my drawers, so I could truly be me With a smile upon his lips, his finger lifted back the other way In which, my head did tilt and obey “You’re free of the world now, my friend, Now go back about that there bend.” His words stuck into my head, as I turned and walked Walking freely, among the path less talked. Written September 17th, 2001 © on Sep 17 2001 06:32 AM PST   0 • 9