We never went the winding way
that would have led us right
we tried to run, to circle back
but nowhere there was light
We failed to see and now we’re caught
inside this mesh, this maze
without the moon or stars, true north
is lost, our mood is grey.
We did not know, we were naive
to trust the preacher’s road
we passed the crossroad, now it’s late
we’re lost because we bowed.
Claude Monet
Today it is open link Night with Sanaa hosting at dVerse. I thought that I would write something that is easy to read, and what could be better than a simple ballad…
May 22. 2025
Björn Rudbergs writings 
Sometimes the signs can be right before us and we still lose our way.
Especially if someone tells us the wrong way
This is a stunning ballad, Bjorn! I resonate with “this maze without the moon or stars, true north is lost, our mood is grey.” 💙💙
So easy to get lost with the wrong guides.
The winding way….ah yes. So easy to get caught up in a maze, metaphorical or real. And if the North Star or the positioning of the sun can be followed, they are true in their direction. Sadly, many a maze seems to not have any “truth to it” or it’s obscured within the many false or misleading compass points!
Indeed… and with the false prophets, we are always mislead.
Killer last line Bjorn … and so, we fail to see the approaching doom of our own making because we were taught not to look? I’ll heap venture capitalists and orange-wigged thumb-suckers to the instructor list.
So many false preachers along the way….
Wonderful rhythm in your words! “We never went the winding way…” Do any of us? Perfect!
It is much easier to follow the signs than to read a map
Yes, often we rely on our guides but, they can lead us astray. Beware of false prophets with their own agendas.
We failed to see and now we are caught….perhaps, caught in a net of untruths…sigh…
Indeed…. the metaphor works in many ways
I admire how you embrace all poetry forms, Björn. The jaunty rhythm and rhyme belied the semi-darkness of your simple ballad, although the title was a hint. I fear being caught ‘inside this mesh, this maze without the moon or stars’.
Metaphorically we are there.
Poetry often conceals its darker meanings but ballads do it more so, as Kim says, the jaunty rhythm belies the darkness…
There is nothing better than a dark ballad…
Oh, for sure it’s a scary thing to be deprived of “the moon or stars, true northis lost,” Lost indeed!
The rhythm in this poem gives it a jaunty feel. But if they’re lost, I guess they’re just winding round in circles. I liked the juxtaposition of that. Thanks for sharing.
Often the simple and jaunty can be better to express darkness.
I like the rhythmic beats that describe the ebb and flow of feelings.
A ballad is a perfect rhythm to me… it always reach the heart.
You’ve mastered the format.
This is exactly what is happening to those who are willing to be led.
A very timely write and I love the rhythm and the rhymes.
Led astray
Absolutely.
a ballad that reads somewhat like a warning … intriguing! 🙂
Indeed
I dig that you are rhyming, and I also love the warning.
Rhymes are nice sometimes… and we have all been warned.
The Bible warns about listening to what our “itching ears want to hear!” We are easily lost…
I really like the rhymes in this and there is a deep sense of being trapped by our choices.
I love the flow of your poem, Bjorn. The mirages of life often take us down the wrong way!
This is great, Bjorn. You capture the ballad style and I like the kick at the end where you have a dig at the preacher…JIM
I want to ride down this road.
Everything I read lately I read through the lens of what is happening in America. And yes, we appear to be lost and this poem reflects those kind of feelings well.
and it is the topic of our anthology as well… hope you will submit
Can you guide me to more information/submission to the anthology?
Just found it!
Great 🙂
Nice to read what I heard you speak aloud.
I really enjoyed listening as you read this poem, Bjorn. As others have said the rhythm and content make a perfect combo.
So well done Bjorn
Brilliant, Bjorn!
Some trips are better if we wind our way through, tough as it may be. Blindly following and circling back is not always the best way. Well written as always.
A most interesting idea, Bjorn. I always seem to take the winding road because I see opportunities where others do not.
Sometimes it’s hard to find the right way. It was great to hear you read this!
That is scary. I do so love this:
“we’re caught
inside this mesh, this maze
without the moon or stars”
Some seasons of life do feel like that.
It is exactly like that when we can’t find our ways.
I wonder if this might have been how the disciples felt after Jesus was killed. Lost, confused, alone, in the dark, not knowing what was coming.
Or maybe psalm 23:4