A stern figure br blocked my way, br said, 'Not this path.' br br I went back br to my old rounds, br pick and shovel in the fields br another year. br br The hopeless, invisible br burden remained on my shoulders. br I stole away again br and returned to the path. br Again the stern figure. br Again I went back br and picked up my tools. br br Another year of dim br purgatory, a gray time br with no prospect of sun. br br Again I took leave br and walked to the path. br The stern figure br admonished yet again, br br but my feet br would not go back br to the fields of the hopeless, br br and I kept walking br along the unknown path.