Like The Sinewy Pinion

Kindred seeds from the forest blown,
By east winds in distance sown,
One by the brook on low land fair,
The other on the high plain arid and bare,
By chance and light each budded alone.

Succored by brook and dew both sprouted and grew,
With outreached arms towards heaven they drew.
One with roots pampered by verdant soil,
The second’s roots coursed in sun-baked toil,
And through the years both came due.

Then passed a day with wind and rain,
Rent against the first with force unfeigned.
This comely plant whose life was callow,
With roots richly fed clinching soil so shallow,
Yielded, swept away by nature’s disdain.

The second’s roots sought nurturing so deep,
Endured stormy billows twas often sweeped,
As were the five virgins it was ever prepared,
To endure tempests and travails quite so unfair,
Became steadfast and stout, chose not to weep.

So like the sinewy pinion the second survived,
With life-long labor and a firm will to thrive.
The first with no challenge or cause to endure,
Never dared, never tested, twas always unsure,
Shrank from life’s trials and knew not to strive.

The road less traveled man ought to consider,
And build his life with things both sweet and bitter.
Thus is his purpose to be tested and tried,
Like Job, make himself best ‘fore eventide,
Must gird up, bear all and be not a quitter.

By Larry Troxel