THE LONELY ROAD
O will you take the lonely road,
The upward road,
Among the many stars?
Its pavement is by Pain bestowed,
Your feet shall find the scars!
Your feet shall know the scars, my friend:
It is a path without a bend.
It leadeth not by pastures green,
Through meadows green,
Nor near the little hills;
Gaunt granite cliffs it runs between,
Dark Fear that chaos fills
With cloud and storm and shadowings
Of vigilant unfolded wings.
It windeth not along the streams,
The laughing streams;
It leadeth straight and far
Beyond the mirrored pool of dreams
In peril to a star:
Who comes this way must go alone,
Steadfast and strong nor making moan.
It is the path called Perilous,
Named Perilous,
The path that heroes tread
Who hear the cry: "O come with us!"—
Brave voices of the dead—
For they are compassed by a throng
Of Harpers harping to a song:
Follow afar
Past cliff and scar,
Finding your star!
Brave in the night,
Up to the light,
Proving your might!
Though the foot fail,
And the heart wail;
Though the brow pale;
Follow afar
Where the gods are,
Finding your star!
Along this way Lord Jesu went,
Christ Jesu went;
Hither came Socrates,
And all who were with tears forspent—
The shining companies
Of those who lifted high the heart
Beyond the lure of any mart.