Antonio Machado's verse «walker, there is no road, the road is made by walking» has become so popular that it is printed on mugs, nightgowns, posters and tattoos. This omnipresence has transformed the phrase into a self-help cliché, distancing it from its original meaning.
However, Machado wrote these verses in 1912 in a context of profound personal tragedy. The Spanish poet suffered at that time the most devastating blow of his life: the death of his wife Leonor, who was only 24 years old, after just three years of marriage.
When this circumstance is known, the verse acquires a dramatic depth that contrasts strongly with its current use as a mere motivational phrase. The road that is made by walking ceases to be a metaphor about personal determination to reveal itself as a much darker reflection on pain and loss.
