what was set in motion followed its own path

We had no clue what it was all about. 

We did things just since things are what you do. 

Performed our deeds and sometimes read a book 

to celebrate that thoughts don’t die on you. 

 

We pushed ahead because you must go on 

or stopped short at an unexpected look 

for there are looks where meaning’s clearly sent, 

above all when we wanted what was meant. 

 

We started and we rounded off it seemed 

but what was set in motion followed its own path. 

We made our plans, though all the while resigned 

to things not going as we thought they might. 

 

We just ran out when we had reached the stage 

that unforeseen things could not be reversed. 

All that we had we left there in the lurch 

and searched for that which had abandoned us. 

 

[Hagar Peeters {1972- }, 'We Too, Tiny Titans', translated from the Dutch by John Irons, from City of Sandcastles]