The journey acquaints the traveler,

With roads narrow and wide.

As they bend and curve; swivel and swirl,

They take him places near and far.

At times they teach him,

The lessons of walking;

Rugged they maybe- giving him a furious fight,

Smooth they may turn out to be- proving it’s not so difficult all the while.

As smooth seas never made skilled sailors,

All the bumps, bends and brakes;

Make him balance his staid.

Fast ways never meant the destination was any nearer.

He sees the sun strike a silent slumber;

Worried, if he’ll never make it;

But the road roars,

Of the drawing destination.

So he beats on, mindfully marching to make the future his present;

Milestones moving by his side, painting pictures of proximity.

(Mannat Arora, based in Ludhiana, India,  is a penultimate year student of Bachelors of Law at Panjab University. Winner of a national-level poetry competition, she strongly considers literature to be a food for the soul. She is a university topper.  She spends most of her time in her library or in the backyard playing with her dog)