The Hard Road

Oh to flash back
to the days of old
before I knew brash,
before I was bold:
if I could use
the knowledge possessed today
in that setting then
it would've gone my way.
I would have had
almost all I wanted
except for the dreams I did
that always haunted.
I would have had
the life I craved
in such a sickening fashion
it would have eaten away.

It would have eaten away
at drives that started
form being denied goals
that were not quickly departed.
I would have been so
consumed in my greatness
that potential lessons learned
would have been wasted.
I would have been so
engrossed in my life
that I would now have no
capacity to deal with strife.

If it would have gone
my way all along
there is no possible way
I could be made this strong.
I would have collapsed
from pressure applied
for which I was not
prepared to survive.
If I had not
gone through the trials
I would forever be
full of that guile.

I could not be more
pleased with the past
for the man it made me
become so fast.
I am thankful each
and every day
that I had to travel
the road on which I was not led astray.