Most may travel on me without care,
there is only one who must beware.
I am the Via Combusta or burnt way.
Only the Moon is debilitated on me.
Once upon me there is no turning back,
only forward step by step.
The Moon cannot go retrograde and so must
move forward on the Via Combust, degree by degree.
I am not soft,
have no pearly sheen;
as a compatriot,
who unlike me,
can be seen.
The compatriot is the Milky Way
who is visible and has a pearly sheen