Photo courtesy of US Air Force/MSgt Brian Nickey

Crossroads

Nervous, untried, energetic,

and full of eager bravado;

uncertainty concealed

behind the fanciful swagger

of an Old West desperado.

Bright eyed and alert for

the slightest sign of possible

disbelief in his ability to

perform from his buddies,

set to counter with the agile

reflexes of a gladiator.

There he is, filled with all

the malleable enthusiasm and

idealism of inexperienced

youth, still relying on elders

and teachers to impart to

him the unbiased truth.

Subtly suggestive of primed farm

land, open and receptive, yet far

too complex to just be though of as

fallow. It seems wholly inadequate

to describe him simply as ‘callow’.

Avid for knowledge, he presents a

truly awesome responsibility.

© Thurman P. Woodfork 5/4/2005

Photo courtesy of US Army

'Princes of the Universe' sequence by Hiro Maru