A friend of mine wrote this beautiful poem, and I thought it was just too
wonderful to keep to myself! :) I hope you're blessed by it as much as I was!


"My Thoughts Travel a Jeweled Path"
by Allison Kirschbaum

In every mind there runs a road
New-laid when we were born
And through our lives
Each step is paved
With hoarded paving-stones

The fine silt of the roadbed
Is an impressionable mind
And every stone that's laid in it
Is one of just two kinds

There's plain, smooth stones of common make
Of the dullest grays and browns
The thoughts of mediocrity
That chain us to the ground

"Bubble, Bubble, Toil, and Trouble"
Or so the saying goes
And that's all the good you'll ever get
With cheap, plain paving-stones

But the second kind, now that's the stuff
Great men's thoughts walk upon
On the road to Eden's sunset glory,
And the shining-white Zion

They're bright, and crisp, and clear, and pure,
Not common stones, but gems
And it is my hope for every youth
They would pave their minds with them!

The blue sapphires are deep and pure,
Heavy and clear as dew,
They represent the noble thoughts,
The strongest ones, and Truth

And the padparadsha orange ones,
They reflect your fire inside,
Your will, your guts, your confidence,
Your passion, courage, drive!

The crisp, sharp green of Hessonite
Reminds you you're a flower
Planted deep inside God's grace,
And nourished by His power

Good grace and judgment are the lot
Of stolid smoky quartz
Though plain, it tempers other stones
With calmness by the quart!

Ruby Zoisite's creativity,
Those divine sparks inside!
It's zany, bubbling over, vivid!
A thing not meant to hide!

With Direction in its right hand,
And Purpose in its left,
Pietersite is a stone of Choice,
Of Foresight it's not bereft!

Though dull to some, to others plain,
Bloodstone is the rash mind's bane,
A stone of caution, but courage too,
Its subtlety means a safe way through

Amber is the softest stone,
It calls only a tender heart "home",
With time to grow and time to spare,
It frees minds from the world's harsh cares

These are the stones that pave the way
Of those who wish for a glory day
But if you're for God, there's one gem more
Crystal, to open your heart's thick door
It needs to be cared for,
Given time and love,
But it's your only link to your Father above

Though there's not many stones in your road yet, my dear,
I hope there's inspiration for the rest of them here
How I enjoy watching your road's joyful progress,
But when all clothed in stones, how will it be dressed?
In the commonest garb of the slaves and the serfs,
Or jewels, like the paths of God's people on Earth?