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Jul 26, 2024
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The Fork In The Road
Her car had careened off the road and had launched over an embankment.
As she climbed back up onto the road, she was amazed to have walked away unscathed, no pain, not even a minor laceration.
She began walking although she had no idea of her whereabouts.
She watched impatiently as an ambulance wizzed past her, lights flashing and warning bells clanging.
She was a busy woman, she had things to do, she had no time for this.
Soon she came to a fork on this mysterious and unfamiliar road.
She had to make a decision.
One path was dark and gloomy but with an easy downward slope to follow along.
The other was well lit but presented a steep uphill climb which led to God knows where.
She was inclined to take the darker path, she’d always been partial to the night life and the likelihood of finding friends along this route was high.
However, she had a feeling that once she’d made her choice there would be no coming back.
Reluctantly she headed towards the illuminated path although the terrain was much rougher and there were many hurdles and obstacles to overcome.
The light increased in intensity as she slowly made her way forward.
“I should have taken the easier path, I need to get home” she lamented internally.
She forged ahead.
Finally, tired and frustrated, after what seemed like an eternity she saw a man standing on the path in front of her.
She asked him for directions, “I need to get home!”
She felt no sense of threat as he embraced her and smiled assuringly without speaking.
It was at that point she had realized…
She was already home.
About This Poem
Style/Type: Free verse
Review Request Intensity: I want the raw truth, feel free to knock me on my back
Editing Stage: Editing - rough draft
Comments
neopoet
11 months ago
Neopoet AI 5-29-23 version
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Candlewitch
11 months ago
Dear Stevo,
by the second line I had the feeling that she did not survived the accident! I was compelled to read on, by the smooth composition of your poem. I was completely caught up in your tale of this woman's transformation and gentle conclusion. good work!
*Cat
Stevo
11 months ago
Thank you Cat
Yes I’m afraid her fate was sealed by the second line….lol
Geezer
11 months ago
Like Cat...
I was sure by the second line, that this lady had not survived the accident. I was also compelled to keep reading and, in the end, not unsurprised that she was greeted by a supreme being. Easy to read, and maybe a little too simplistic. ~ Geezer.
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Stevo
11 months ago
Thank you
Appreciate your input
Alex Tanner
11 months ago
Got it
By the second line. The Film "Carnival of Souls". Sorry Stevo, to me it reads like a movie review and just doesn't work, at least certainly not for me. Alex.
Stevo
11 months ago
Thank you
Appreciate your comment
Stevo
11 months ago
Poem review
Alex Tanner, as with any poem or story, we have no idea who our particular audience happens to be. So hopefully there is something in it for anyone. An older, more sophisticated reader would obviously suspect that the lady in question was deceased almost right away, whereas it may get by a younger, less astute reader. It was my hope that the readers who caught on right away would then focus on the real story here and that is the choices and pitfalls we all have to deal during our life and especially as it ends. Was she going to take the easy road which she may regret and which she indicates many of her friends have already chosen, or the harder but more rewarding road which she eventually selects. She notices the “Warning bells clanging” on the passing ambulance which symbolizes her need to choose her path wisely as there will be consequences. “Warning bells” is an odd choice of words to describe a siren, right? Yes, unless you put it into the context of the perils before her, she is being warned. And finally, after fatigue and frustration start to eat away at her and when all hope appears lost she meets her saviour and all is well…Pity that all you’ve concentrated on was how quickly you realized she was dead and how the story, in your view, ended there.
Stevo
11 months ago
Poem review
Alex Tanner, as with any poem or story, we have no idea who our particular audience happens to be. So hopefully there is something in it for anyone. An older, more sophisticated reader would obviously suspect that the lady in question was deceased almost right away, whereas it may get by a younger, less astute reader. It was my hope that the readers who caught on right away would then focus on the real story here and that is the choices and pitfalls we all have to deal during our life and especially as it ends. Was she going to take the easy road which she may regret and which she indicates many of her friends have already chosen, or the harder but more rewarding road which she eventually selects. She notices the “Warning bells clanging” on the ambulance which symbolizes her need to choose her path carefully as there will be consequences. “Warning bells” is an odd choice of words to describe a siren, right? Yes, unless you put it into the context of the perils before her. And finally, after fatigue and frustration start to eat away at her and when all hope appears lost she meets her saviour and all is well…Pity that all you’ve concentrated on was how quickly you realized she was dead and how the story, in your view, ended there.