Several Bad Decisions
 
And so came a visitor
one day rapping at my door
like twin shotgun blasts
BLAM
BLAM
and opening the door I saw a stranger
an old man with a familiar smile
that beguiled me and I let him in
and he sat upon my couch
on the middle cushion
his skinny body sinking deep,
he patted the other cushions
an odd gesture, not inviting:
 
I don’t have much time
but I will share what I can
you’re headed toward trouble
you can’t see yet, but I can’t forget
life turns rocky and you almost succumb
but I can help you, I’ve drawn you a map
a guidebook to your life
as you are set to make
several bad decisions
this year,
some things you can’t change,
he says
holding up one hand
with four fingers and angry old scars
but others are easy,
just dance to the side
and the danger will pass harmlessly by
for you
life will continue
you will know peace,
follow the map, he says
and the pain in his voice
is echoed in his eyes
my eyes
we breathe in time
and I get it.


* Jeff Fleming is the editor of nibble – http://nibblepoems.wordpress.com – he writes poetry when no one is looking.