Which Way

WHICH WAY


Oodnadatta Track
or the Stuart Highway?
Ernest Giles Track
or back on Lassiter's Loop Way?
The easy road or the one
that calls?

Too many of us
are at the crossroad
simply wondering where
the answers lie.

Yet, of ancient time
tried and true field knowledge
begun a way.

Native Footpads became
Explorer Tracks,
as they followed,
to honour knowledge of
truly constraining geography
in respect for
the long-habituated steps of
well-trod human wisdom.

All superceded by central planning
And the mind-forged easy-way through,
out-landed from some drawn-artifice
come of desk-brained convenience,
some long-handled theoretic short-cut,
that make ruins
of the way.

Till pilgrim men went running,
just running,
scattered about,
like ants stomped
of grounded nests,
running every which way
without rest.

Old Prophet Jeremiah's
answer is pretty clear;
-especially with its aria
of counterpointed antithesis:

"This is what
the Lord says:
"Stand at the cross-roads
and look;
ask for the ancient paths,
ask where
the good way is,
and walk in it,
and you will find
rest for your souls.

But you said, 'We
will not walk in it.'"

Ah, such a puncture
does slew one off from
the calling journey!