Strangers On The Road

Strangers On The Road

An old man journeyed the Whreymire Road
before a storm one night;
He sought a place to rest his head
and wait for morning's light.

He stopped to camp just off the road
and sat before his fire;
To eat and rest, perhaps to sleep;
but wrote 'til he grew tired.

He journaled all his travels
about his search for honest men;
And hoped that in his tireless search,
he'd find the truth within.

Then from the trees a Stranger came,
to the edge of the campfire light.
And bade the man, "May I join you there;
to share the lonely night?"

A chilling wind from nowhere came,
encircling the man,
He shook the chill from 'round him off;
and simply nodded his head.

"I will not bid you welcome,
so you cannot choose to stay.
For I will on my way alone,
come nigh the break of day.

The Stranger cast a sickening smile
and sat before the fire,
he sat and stared as the old man wrote,
for hour upon hour.

Another Stranger approached the camp,
claiming kinship to the other.
And asked to join them for the night
while waiting for another.

The old man nodded toward a space
beside the other man.
Two dark visitors in the night
awaiting another of their brand.

Blood ran from the second stranger's eyes,
his voice a silent hiss.
He asked the old man about his life
and how he had come to this.

The man said "I will not answer you,
nor will I choose to sleep.
For on this dark and lonely road,
my counsel will I keep."

"We know what lies on the road ahead."
they said to the rising wind.
And stared as one into the old man's eyes,
"We know what lies within."

They cackled loud, a flash of light,
a rise of storm and rain.
But round the camp, the ground stayed dry
as the dust when he first came.

The thump of heavy heartbeats
rang in rhythm with the thunder,
the very earth itself was shaken
as something came from under.

From down the road, a wagon came,
its axles wreathed in flame.
A load of bones and corpses shook,
all smoking as it came.

Its driver stopped before the camp,
black horses without eyes.
And asked if he could join them
'til the light has touched the skies.

His cloak was black, rank and torn;
his face all leathern skin.
He stepped down from the wagon and said,
"Won't you invite me in?"

I will not bid you welcome,
so you cannot choose to stay.
For I will on my way alone,
come nigh the break of day.

"I travel to my mother's house,
just o're the northern hill;
For word has come to me of how
she has grown gravely ill.

I've learned much in my travels
and I come to bring her aid,
lest she lose herself in circumstance,
and leave this life", he said.

"We also journey to this place,
to see your lonely mother;
and keep her company one last time,
since she has had no other.

The aid you bring is much too little;
moreover, much too late.
She'll take her fall to darkness,
for we three now hold her fate."

"I think not" said the old man,
"You'll not go there this night.
I came this way because of you,
to set all things to right."]

"What chance have you?" hissed the former two,
"You've one foot in the grave!
No warrior's countenance comes from you,
what power do you have?"

The old man reached into his sack,
and pulled a battered book;
that blazed with light so brilliant,
that the Strangers could not look.

"What sorcery is this?" the Hissers screamed,
the Driver ran for cover.
"I've entertained you much too long", he said.
"This conversation is over."

In thunderings and flames of fire,
the Strangers disappear.
and left the old man standing
as he wiped a single tear.

The old man left his camp
and journeyed over the hill to home,
and came to find his mother who was ill,
so very much alone.

She forgave him for her lonely days
as he read to her from the book;
that earlier drove the strangers off
with just a single look.

"How fared you with them?" she had asked.
They did not come this way,
What stopped them on their journey here
before the break of day?"

"I asked God for forgiveness
and the way to set you free.
All He gave me was his Word
and said bring it back with me.

I did not know its Power
'til this dark and lonely night,
when I saw Fear, Death and
Damnation put to flight.

They left me and they couldn't take you,
the Lord's Word is strong,
against Forgiveness, Faith and Hope,
they did not last for long."

His mother safe, his travels through,
he signed his final page.
And learned his greatest lesson
at an unexpected age.

This road of life we travel,
is filled with fears and dread,
but we can conquer all of them
if we use faith instead.

So on your dark-road journey
when the Strangers come to call,
just open the Book of faith and hope,
For God's Word conquers all.

© 2004 Robert L. Ward
  from the forthcoming compilation "End-Sights"  Volume I