Golden road to Samarkand
Go as a pilgrim and seek out danger
Far from the well lit avenues of life.
Pit your soul against the very unknown,
And seek stimulation in the company of the brave.
Experience cold and hunger, heat and thirst,
And survive to see another challenge and another dawn.
Only then will you be at peace with yourself
And be able to know – and to say:
” I looked down on the farthest side of the mountain,
And fulfilled and understanding all, and truly content
That I lived a life that was my own choice.”
(James Elroy Flecker)
*Apparently, this is not exactly the poem Flecker wrote. At least it wasn’t in the text I read from the play “Hassan”. It’s widely associated in the internet to some kind of song of the british military force. Anyway, both versions are great. But this one certainly is a bit more inspiring, I would say…
