A Life Lesson

I cycled on a misty morn
Down a country lane
Thinking over what I'd lost
And what I had to gain.
The road was long and winding,
The path was high and steep,
Yet it was often travelled
By both boisterous and the meek.
When pedalling up a hilly stretch
I noticed drawing near
An old woman trying to stop me
From venturing on in fear.
She waved her arms quite breathless
So I pulled on the brakes,
I came to a dusty stop
Overlooking some crystal lakes.
'Why ever have you stopped me?'
I asked with quizzical brow
While searching through the wrinkles
That showed paths, past and now.
'I only come to stop you
From riding on in vain;
Continuing on this rocky road
Won't bring you any gain.'
'Oh posh!' I told her mounting
My trusty, rusty steed.
'My life is an adventure
And I, I take the lead.
My faults and blots upon my page
Are only MY mistakes,
Call me young and foolish
But they're my errors to make.'
I road on for seventy years,
My bicycle high-jacked
And with a tired, ageing sigh
I slowly wandered back.
With withered hands and aching feet
I journeyed homeward bound
Until out in the distance
I heard a cyclist sound.
I stopped a young girl, fair of face
Who reminded me of me
When I was once so fresh and young,
So beautiful and free.
I flagged her down and begged her stop
The fool's errand she took
But she waved me off and carried on
Without another look.
With saddened heart in reverie
Epiphany visited my mind;
The old lady I had met
Was me in future times
And this treacherous path I warned them of,
Advised against with might,
Was only future, unheeded wisdom
On how to handle life.