The Road
It is sometimes better to travel cheerfully than to arrive.23 total reviews
Comment from Joan E.
First, the etching caught my eye and lead me into your poem, and I was fascinated by your top note. I admired your rhythmic, rhymed quatrains and the mood you created. Best wishes in the contest and enjoy the remains of Sunday- Joan
reply by the author on 06-Aug-2018
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First, the etching caught my eye and lead me into your poem, and I was fascinated by your top note. I admired your rhythmic, rhymed quatrains and the mood you created. Best wishes in the contest and enjoy the remains of Sunday- Joan
Comment Written 05-Aug-2018
reply by the author on 06-Aug-2018
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Many thanks for your good wishes, Joan. Much appreciated. I'm delighted that the mood of this one came through as I had intended. Best wishes, Tony
Comment from Just2Write
A delightful poem, Tony. Nostalgic and you speak of the raod as though it is a trusted friend and guardian. There are not many like that anymore in our busy busy lives. The was a feeling of Frosts, The Road less Travelled. Loved this.
reply by the author on 07-Aug-2018
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A delightful poem, Tony. Nostalgic and you speak of the raod as though it is a trusted friend and guardian. There are not many like that anymore in our busy busy lives. The was a feeling of Frosts, The Road less Travelled. Loved this.
Comment Written 05-Aug-2018
reply by the author on 07-Aug-2018
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Very many thanks for your review, Rose. I'm flattered to have my poem mentioned in the same breath as Frost's. As you suggest, we seem to avoid the pleasant byways and backwaters in these absurd days of 24/7 activity. Best wishes, Tony
Comment from country ranch writer
Everyone wants to go to heaven but no one wants to go just now. Seems everyone must make the journey sooner or later in time to come.
reply by the author on 07-Aug-2018
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Everyone wants to go to heaven but no one wants to go just now. Seems everyone must make the journey sooner or later in time to come.
Comment Written 05-Aug-2018
reply by the author on 07-Aug-2018
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Thanks for the six shining stars. I'm hoping that one day they will light my way to heaven - but not just yet!
Comment from Gloria ....
Most clever poem, Tony. Of course if we knew our destination in advance and there was nothing to fear along the way my guess is we'd all dilly dally to smell the roses along the way.
Nicely done and good philosophical commentary too.
Gloria
reply by the author on 07-Aug-2018
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Most clever poem, Tony. Of course if we knew our destination in advance and there was nothing to fear along the way my guess is we'd all dilly dally to smell the roses along the way.
Nicely done and good philosophical commentary too.
Gloria
Comment Written 05-Aug-2018
reply by the author on 07-Aug-2018
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Many thanks for your comments, Gloria. I suspect that I know what my destination is, but I'm in no hurry to get there!
Comment from Artasylum
Oh yes tfawcus... the destination isn't where one wants to be... it's the journey that makes us happy and sometimes the destination is somewhat worrisome if it comes too near. good luck in your contest. yours, diana
reply by the author on 07-Aug-2018
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Oh yes tfawcus... the destination isn't where one wants to be... it's the journey that makes us happy and sometimes the destination is somewhat worrisome if it comes too near. good luck in your contest. yours, diana
Comment Written 05-Aug-2018
reply by the author on 07-Aug-2018
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Thanks, Diana. As they say, it is better to travel hopefully than to arrive. Best wishes, Tony
Comment from krys123
Just Wow!
Cheers, Tony;
>"I care not if I'm late." Neither do I. What a wonderful piece of writing, Tony, as the metaphors clearly have stated, in your contextual enchantment and in the conceptual theme, so easily understood, as it revolves around a metaphorical story of an adventure.
> All formatted structural integrity is sound.
> I really enjoyed this one, Tony, And I wish you all the blessings and luck with your entry.
Alx
PS: Why I say blessings as I think this is the Lord's hand.
reply by the author on 07-Aug-2018
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Just Wow!
Cheers, Tony;
>"I care not if I'm late." Neither do I. What a wonderful piece of writing, Tony, as the metaphors clearly have stated, in your contextual enchantment and in the conceptual theme, so easily understood, as it revolves around a metaphorical story of an adventure.
> All formatted structural integrity is sound.
> I really enjoyed this one, Tony, And I wish you all the blessings and luck with your entry.
Alx
PS: Why I say blessings as I think this is the Lord's hand.
Comment Written 05-Aug-2018
reply by the author on 07-Aug-2018
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Thank you, Alex. Your generous review and accolade of stars are indeed heartwarming! Very much appreciated, as always! Best wishes to you and yours, Tony
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Very welcome, Tony.
Alx
Comment from BeasPeas
This is a wonderfully composed poem, smooth and well rhymed. Illustration is perfect for your piece. I agree with you. Getting there is half the fun and takes us to interesting places. The tried and true old route seems best most times. Marilyn
reply by the author on 07-Aug-2018
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This is a wonderfully composed poem, smooth and well rhymed. Illustration is perfect for your piece. I agree with you. Getting there is half the fun and takes us to interesting places. The tried and true old route seems best most times. Marilyn
Comment Written 05-Aug-2018
reply by the author on 07-Aug-2018
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Thanks, Marilyn. It seems that there is too little time allowed for exploring the byways these days! All the best, Tony
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I agree, Tony. I like to take those off-the-beaten path roads.
Comment from rama devi
Bravo for an enjoyable and well penned read. Fine entry for the contest. Great rhymes and flow. Great theme.
NOTES:
Love these lines:
but I prefer a winding road,
an ancient road more dear.
Great rhyme and alliteraiton here:
The hawthorn bends and beckons,
so, too, the Old Man's Beard.
This road is safe, I reckon,
but the destination's feared.
Perfect closing note (and fine alliteration of W as well):
I must espouse the winding way
beyond the wicket gate,
where every footstep's heaven;
I care not if I'm late.
I enjoyed this! Witty and wise. No suggestions.
Warmly, rd
reply by the author on 07-Aug-2018
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Bravo for an enjoyable and well penned read. Fine entry for the contest. Great rhymes and flow. Great theme.
NOTES:
Love these lines:
but I prefer a winding road,
an ancient road more dear.
Great rhyme and alliteraiton here:
The hawthorn bends and beckons,
so, too, the Old Man's Beard.
This road is safe, I reckon,
but the destination's feared.
Perfect closing note (and fine alliteration of W as well):
I must espouse the winding way
beyond the wicket gate,
where every footstep's heaven;
I care not if I'm late.
I enjoyed this! Witty and wise. No suggestions.
Warmly, rd
Comment Written 05-Aug-2018
reply by the author on 07-Aug-2018
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Thanks, RD. A review from you with no suggestions for improvement is a high accolade in itself! LOL
Best wishes, Tony
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LOL! Thanks, Tony. Best Wishes, rd
Comment from Dorothy Farrell
Hello Tony, this is a lovely poem in abcb rhyme form. I like the subject you have chosen. It is said the journey is more important than the destination. We should enjoy it - we are all making it. Did you intend the words 'Wicket Gate'? Robin Tanner did etchings of the 'Wicker Gate' (a typo ?) - whatever... you have written a lovely poem. Perhaps there are many on FS who will not know what Old Man's Beard is - it's everywhere in hedges at the end of summer. Do you have it in Australia? Regards Dorothy
reply by the author on 06-Aug-2018
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Hello Tony, this is a lovely poem in abcb rhyme form. I like the subject you have chosen. It is said the journey is more important than the destination. We should enjoy it - we are all making it. Did you intend the words 'Wicket Gate'? Robin Tanner did etchings of the 'Wicker Gate' (a typo ?) - whatever... you have written a lovely poem. Perhaps there are many on FS who will not know what Old Man's Beard is - it's everywhere in hedges at the end of summer. Do you have it in Australia? Regards Dorothy
Comment Written 05-Aug-2018
reply by the author on 06-Aug-2018
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Thanks for your kind words, Dorothy. Yes, I did mean Wicket Gate. Robin Tanner did some lovely etchings, many of them inspired by the Wiltshire countryside. His home in Kington Langley was quite near to where I used to live, so I have quite an affinity for them. The one shown was entitled The Wicket Gate, though I daresay he did some of wicker gates, too - perhaps the wattle gates that shepherds use during sheepdog trials. One of the lanes that ran close to our cottage was always a riot of Old Man's Beard and wild rose-hips in the autumn. Sadly we don't have it here, although I do have hundreds of dog roses on the hillside which provide wonderful shelter for the small birds. I'm told that they are considered to be noxious weeds and should be exterminated! Not on my watch!
Comment from Sandra du Plessis
A very well-written rhyming poem about the road of life. We all start the same way and reach the same destination. What we do between the beginning and the end is what really matter.
reply by the author on 06-Aug-2018
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A very well-written rhyming poem about the road of life. We all start the same way and reach the same destination. What we do between the beginning and the end is what really matter.
Comment Written 05-Aug-2018
reply by the author on 06-Aug-2018
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Thanks, Sandra. What you say is so true. It is what we do between setting out and arriving that really counts.