Wanderer, your footsteps are
the road, and nothing more;
wanderer, there is no road,
the road is made by walking.
By walking one makes the road,
and upon glancing behind
one sees the path
that never will be trod again.
Wanderer, there is no road–
Only wakes upon the sea.
-Antonio Machado
** For the season of Advent I am posting a reflection each Sunday on a theme from the lectionary readings and then during the week offering a poem each day to highlight that theme — see this past Sunday here **
** Visit this week’s Poetry Party on the theme of Illumination **
4 Responses
This beautiful Machado poem puts light upon and affirms and enriches my own efforts to express this wisdom. “I Am the Fabric of the Road I Am On” is the title of the piece I send to you. I am grateful to receive this word this morning.
Jenifer Hartsfield
Thank you both for these thoughtful comments.
This poem has a beautiful message. It makes me think before I take my path because I cannot take back my path. Thank you for sharing this.
What this touches in me is the internal territory reserved for all of the labyrinth walks I have experienced over the last ten years….’ and upon glancing behind one sees the path that never will be trod again’….