A Poem About What to Do When You Feel Stuck or Lost

When Your Compass Is Broken

A Poem by Ashley C. Cantave

When your compass is broken
And the roads have no light
And you forgot your lantern
And it’s long past midnight
You may start to wonder,
“Which way should I go?”
There’s no one to lead you
So, how will you know?
“Should I lean on logic
“Or do what my heart says?
“But I can’t hear my heart
“For the voice in my head
“Speaks with a loudness
“That’s hard to ignore.”
So lost in confusion
You sit on the floor
And hope that the answers
Will come in their time
Or maybe you’ll find clarity
In daylight.

But this night’s without end
As you sit on the floor
Not moving forward
Nor trying to explore
The roads that you see
Maybe not so clearly
But you could choose a road
To find where it will lead.
If it’s not the right path
You can always come back
Instead of just waiting for
Answers you lack.

But you choose to stare
At your compass as if
Just staring will fix it
But I dare you to lift
Yourself off the ground
Choose one of those roads
And start walking down it
To see where it goes.
You can walk without light
Yes, you will be alright
Though your compass is broken
And it’s long past midnight.

Even if that road
Comes to an abrupt end
At least then you tried it
You don’t have to pretend
That just wondering
About that road is enough
If it’s not the right path
Then you’re really not stuck
You just got an answer
One of many you’ll find
If you keep stepping forward
Not looking behind
To see if a hero
Will come rescue you
Show you which road to take
Tell you which path to choose.
Just keep stepping forward
And if a road ends
Go back to the start
And just start again.

Try a different road now
See where this one leads
Until you find one that meets
All of your needs.
Until you find that your compass
Has repaired itself
No hero has saved you
No, you saved yourself
You kept moving forward
Not crumbling when
The way wasn’t clear
And roads came to an end.
Now you see the day dawning
All is clearer at last
Now your path is illumined
Now you start walking fast
You can quicken your pace
Since the darkness is gone
Now you don’t miss your lantern
In the light of the dawn.

When your compass is broken
And the roads have no light
Just keep stepping forward
Though it’s long past midnight.
You can fix your compass
You can find your way
And your path will be illumined
In the light of the day.

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