At the Crossroads
He stood at the crossroads all alone, The sunlight in his face;
He knew nothing of roads unknown, He was set for a manly race.
But the road stretched east and the road stretched west,
And the boy knew not which road was the best;
So he turned to the one which would lead him down,
And he lost the race and the victor's crown.
Finally he was caught in an angry snare
Because no one stood at the crossroads there
To show him the better way
Another day in this self-same place
A young boy with high hopes stood;
He, too, was set for a manly race
He too was seeking for that which was good.
But one was there whom the roads did know,
And he showed the boy which way to go;
So he turned from the road which would lead him down,
And he won the race and the victor's crown;
Today he walks the highways fair
Because someone stood at the crossroads there
To show him the better way.
- Sadie Tiller Crawley
He stood at the crossroads all alone, The sunlight in his face;
He knew nothing of roads unknown, He was set for a manly race.
But the road stretched east and the road stretched west,
And the boy knew not which road was the best;
So he turned to the one which would lead him down,
And he lost the race and the victor's crown.
Finally he was caught in an angry snare
Because no one stood at the crossroads there
To show him the better way
Another day in this self-same place
A young boy with high hopes stood;
He, too, was set for a manly race
He too was seeking for that which was good.
But one was there whom the roads did know,
And he showed the boy which way to go;
So he turned from the road which would lead him down,
And he won the race and the victor's crown;
Today he walks the highways fair
Because someone stood at the crossroads there
To show him the better way.
- Sadie Tiller Crawley