As I stumble across
the forgotten fork in the road
emotion threatens to overwhelm me.
Five friends long ago
we lost in that collision
my first real taste of things not to be.

And I remember how everyone said
(with after sight’s twenty-twenty vision)
if they’d taken the right instead of the left
just made a different decision
or had perhaps been ten seconds earlier or later
they’d still be alive today....

Last night as I rummaged through
A box of memorabilia
My hand fell upon
An old photograph of you

How some things never change
Still holding the weight of the world
Upon those strong shoulders
While the sorrow reflects
In your eyes

A mystery
Without an end
An enigma
Never to be known

What was then to you
Is still now
Dismay and distain
Show in a furrowed brow

I slowly placed the photograph
Back in it’s rightful place
Along with the dust of old memories

A gently falling autumn rain
breaking a long dry spell,
bringing life to plants again
as waterways begin to swell.

The days henceforth won't be as warm
nor the woods so sere and dry.
Should the season hold true to form
'fore long peepers won't croak or cry.

Perhaps this front will bring a frost
or at least some cooler days
as the green from leaves is lost
and puddles gain an icy glaze.

.

Mankind:

a whole lot of you and me's!

Mankind:

the most successful species of all
flying higher than the birds
diving deeper than the whale
scurrying around the planet
speedier than a cheetah chased gazelle
killing off all predators and
other inconvieniant species
( with disconcerting ease, I might add)

Mankind:

an Earth animal
absurd as a psychotic platypus
deranged as a Salvador Dali jig saw puzzle
still in the box

Mankind: