Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both – Robert Frost
What if — today
is crossroad-different,
a path diverging,
maybe mountainwards
or deeper valleywards
into forests or back home.
instead of leading
on and further onwards — straight?
What if — today
you have a choice to turn leeway
instead of being helm-tied
with the pole-star burning brightly
for the curse of course,
the damned direction
you’ve been born to keep?
What if — today
there is a portal opened skyward
leading upwards from the ennui
of being shackled
to the gravity of yore and to the dun of yesterday?
What if – tomorrow
is bright instead of being
grey and quarrelsome
like today?
Crossroads Grey by Leon Polk Smith
Today Anmol hosts at dVerse on the subject of portals, to me, a portal (of interest) has to be a choice or opportunity that leads you to something different from where you are.
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May 19, 2020
Björn Rudbergs writings 
I really like the refrain of ‘What if’ and how that corresponds to what you feel about portals. There are many options here to choose from. Well-penned, Björn! 🙂
When thinking about portals, the Robert Frost poems came to my mind, and that road not taken.
A poem that poses supposes! I really enjoyed reading this, with all the contrasts of direction and especially that last stanza
We are always at crossroads i think.
I wish….
I’m with Anmol – ‘What if’ works so well as a refrain, an echo through the portals, and I see what you mean about Robert Frost and that road not taken, Björn. I also, like Laura, like the contrasts, especially the lines:
‘you have a choice to turn leeway
instead of being helm-tied
with the pole-star burning brightly
for the curse of course’
and I love:
‘What if – tomorrow
is bright instead of being
grey and quarrelsome
like today?’
I am someone who still love to feel that I have a choice… even if I chose to stay put.
I like the thought of a door opening skyward.
This is flipping incredible, Bjorn! Way to go!
Sheesh, these sections are amazing:
“crossroad-different”
“instead of being helm-tied
with the pole-star burning brightly
for the curse of course,
the damned direction
you’ve been born to keep”
“there is a portal opened skyward
leading upwards from the ennui
of being shackled
to the gravity of yore”
Thanks – I had fun with some of the compound words
You’ve opened a portal of potential here that carries a breath of fresh air.
I love your what ifs, Bjorn and the hopefulness.
This seems so full of hope–a nice change! I suppose every day is filled with choices like this.
The third part is my favorite Bjorn. I specially love sudden twist and many possibilities of tomorrow, from today.
What if — today
there is a portal opened skyward
A portal to civility would be a wonderful paradigm shift for Society!
What if? I agree, there are new possibilities opening up now.
I love this hopeful poem that considers positive choices…what if?!
“Staying home” is a choice, and a damned good one. Venturing out bareback into the pestilence and contagion is like playing hopscotch on the freeway. This is a poem of/for hope, and the wordsmithing is excellent.
Love the hope and choices you present the reader 💙
I like the “what ifs” here. We are so often stuck there, unable to move.
kaykuala
The last stanza gives it a semblance of salvation, a nearness to it being possible, not something that is not readily able to be saved!
Hank
The magic of possibility…may it always be there. (K)
Lots of hope, here, Bjorn. The Frost reference is clever, reminds us that this is the road less travelled.
I love all of the possibilities you present here. Magical.
What if portals are openings to improbabilities and your questions are the keys to unlock them? This is so powerful!
what if indeed!
Crossroads are always a profound image.
May I spam you with an early crossroads poem of mine?
Please spam me…
Yay! I think you may have seen this before though 🙂
https://lonagynt.wordpress.com/2017/01/29/btt-2-desert-crossroads-at-dusk/
Really like this poem – particularly the use of all kinds of directions
I’m so glad you didn’t stick to crossroads but took us to other configurations – lots of fresh imagery here. Favorite lines:
“helm-tied
with the pole-star burning brightly
for the curse of course,
the damned direction
you’ve been born to keep?”
There is some great word play here, Björn. I see these as questions that likely can’t be answered until the moment those options are faced.
mmmh I like your definition of a ‘portal’, very thought provoking!
Your poem is deeply reflective, doubtful yet hopeful at the same time …
Hi great reading yourr post