the map

when we are young
anything is possible
or at least that is how it seems
so many forks in the road
the hardest thing is
deciding which to take
and watching out for
detours that can hang us up
if we find ourselves following
a path that doesn't suit us
there is always an exit ramp
or spot for a quick u-turn
if we get lost, there's a map
or these days, a handy gps
to set us straight
then at a certain point
we find ourselves
traveling a road that grows
increasingly narrow
sometimes we turn up
a street that is marked
dead end, no outlet
alternate routes are few
and we travel for miles
with no rest stops
no scenic overlooks
or roadside attractions
if only we could find ourselves
back at the start of our journey
and sit there a long while
to make sure we have things
all mapped out
and planned ahead
if we could see the trip
ahead of us with more clarity
ahhh, there's the fly in works
few of us can