The Back-Trail

By Dan “Doc” Wilson

May 13, 2015

 

​As evening darkness fades to dawn

to close the door to yesterday,

each new tomorrow leads us on

toward our private passageway.

 

And as we wander on we find

some other scene and distant place,

but mem’ries that we left behind

the course of time cannot erase.

 

So turn around my hasty friend

and check the back-trail that you know.

Those rutted roads that twist and bend

you rode yourself not long ago.

 

The ups and downs and stormy days,

the seeds of life that you have sown,

are markers on the winding ways

along the path you chose alone.

Those distant times, a backward look,

the laughs and frowns you used to know,

live in your back-trail mem’ry-book

like some forgotten picture show.

​

And like a timeless finger print,

your back-trail points to every deed.

It shows each clue and every hint

of trails not taken, not decreed

 

So, pause a bit and check your trail,

and note the fork you never took.

It may have led to great travail

or riches in your mem’ry-book.

 

But some things we can never change

nor wish for life that might have been,

along the back-trail of our range,

across the hills and rills within.

 

So celebrate your chosen trail,

the one you’ve traveled down so far.

Your back-trail mem’ry tells the tale

and made you what today you are!