Foster’s ‘Life is but a Highway’

VICKSBURG, Miss. (Vicksburg Daily News)–The date was November 26, 1961. Satartia native Dongieux Foster was in a barren land somewhere overseas on orders from the United States Army. He was isolated, lonely, and quite homesick.

As the boredom set in, Foster’s thoughts often turned to his beloved Mississippi and his loved ones left behind there. To combat the isolation and boredom, he often turned to writing.

The following is his poem from that particular day.

LIFE IS BUT A HIGHWAY

Through the years of my life
so many seem to always ask
is life just a fleeting dream
or just a show and its cast

it is here and real today
yet no promise of tomorrow
today filled with happiness
tomorrow maybe with sorrow

but truly life is but a highway
up a rocky mountain steep
across the widest plains
and over the canyons deep

there are wide oceans to cross
with storms of despair to face
deserts of sand so hot and dry
to test your endurance in this place

there are stones along the way
that you may stumble on
but if you keep your eyes on Jesus
you will never walk alone

there are cliffs that you may fall from
and thorns to pierce the feet
and so many pleasant things
like the friends you will have to meet

there are purple mountains
with snow so white and cold
but when we come to the end
then we’ll walk the streets of gold

yes life is but a highway
that we must travel on
till this earthly life is over
and we reach that eternal home.