Right and Left

[Walter]

The Right and The Left

They struggled 'cross the prairie,
On towards the mountain slopes,
To gain that peaceful valley,
And realize their hopes.

They wanted peace and safety,
And the brotherhood of man,
And, not just for themselves,
But, for the worldwide clan.

The trails ahead divided,
And led in different ways,
But the signposts all did beckon,
With the hopes of better days.

One trail pointed to the right,
The going would be slow,
For it was small and winding,
Its ending not to know.

The other led them to the left,
And it was smooth and broad,
Its signpost promised plenty,
Without the help of God.

The eagle, soaring overhead,
Could see where both trails went,
And he had read the signposts,
And knew what each one meant.

The left trail ended sharply,
As it reached the mesa's rim,
And dropped away to chaos,
To hopes completely dimmed.

The right trail, starting roughly,
Smoothed, as it went on,
Leading to a peaceful end,
And to a hopeful dawn.

[Ogilvy]

I disagree with the idea that conservatism is the way to go. Rather I imagine there being a third road, straight through the middle.

However, I am curious, did you write this? Because as a poem it is very good. It's structurally sound as far as syllables per line and stanzas go. The rhyme pattern is strange, though. ABABCDEDFGHGIJKJLMNMOPQORSTS.

I'm unaware of what form of poetry that is, but I must say it is well-composed. That's very surprising. Which is why I'd like to know whether it was your work or not.

[Walter]

Although I wish I had written this piece, I did not. It was emailed to me my a colleague who, when I asked her your question, said that she does not know its authorship.

Sorry.

[lordjulius7]

A more traditional, and undoubtedly conservative lyric :

There's forty shillings on the drum
For those who'll volunteer to come
Enlist and fight the French today
Over the hills and far away

O'er the hill and o'er the main
Through Flanders, Portugal and Spain
King George commands and we obey
Over the hills and far away.