He stood at the crossroads all alone,
The sunlight in his face;
He had no thought for an evil course
He was set for a manly race.
But the road stretched east, and the road stretched west,
And he did not know which road was best,
So he took the wrong road and it led him down,
And he lost the race and the victor’s crown.
He was caught at last in an angry snare
Because no one stood at the crossroads there
To show him the better road.

Another day, at the selfsame place,
A boy with high hopes stood.
He, too, was set for a manly race —
He was seeking the things that were good.
And one was there who the roads did know,
And that one showed him the way to go,
So he turned away from the road leading down,
And he won the race and the victor’s crown.
He walks today the highway fair
Because one stood at the crossroads there
To show him the better road.

by Sadie Tiller Crawley