In The End

 

At the crossroads

Where heaven and hell

Cross paths

The stoplight is always red

Going north and south,

For east and west is where

The real traffic flows.

 

It don’t take a compass

To know the difference

Between up or down,

Just a worldly

Sense of direction.

 

Instinct only gets you so far

Before you run out of gas

On the tracks,

Where the train

Carrying every bag

You’ve ever packed

Is barreling down

On the truth

Tied to the rails.

 

After all is said and done

The caboose is all we’ll have remaining.

 

Reviews

[MomzillaNC]

A wonderful allegory of the choices laid before us in Life. It is also a terrific allegory of our current times, especially with this stanza:

Instinct only gets you so far
Before you run out of gas
On the tracks,
Where the train
Carrying every bag
You’ve ever packed
Is barreling down
On the truth
Tied to the rails.

[The Rock And Roll Cowboy(REBEL WITH A CAUSE)]

Why thank you very kindly.

[MomzillaNC]

YVW 😎

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Love the allegory of our life's path as a train journey and one out of control at that as most of us are not trained as loco drivers and in anycase we don't know where the hell the brakes are!

[Coyote Poetry]

I agree my friend. When it is our time to go. Walk the last steps without fear. Thank you for sharing he outstanding poetry.
Coyote

[The Rock And Roll Cowboy(REBEL WITH A CAUSE)]

Thank you for reading and commenting.

[Ana Papaya]

I've never thought of it this way.
When the vessel runs out of steam we hop on a new line. No going back, no going forward.
East into the sunset sounds good to me.

[The Rock And Roll Cowboy(REBEL WITH A CAUSE)]

Thank you for the feedback.

[Ana Papaya]

yeah, no prob. I liked it

[barleygirl]

I have to admit, I enjoyed your poem better after reading Jacob's review. I am not one to ponder the end of life. It never crosses my mind (except when I'm wishing for it). So I'm curious to read how other people interpret this phase of life/death. Your up/down and east/west ideas work really well to describe life & death. I'm not worried about dying, I'm afraid I might have to live much longer in all-over pain . . . that's the east/west width that haunts me! (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[The Rock And Roll Cowboy(REBEL WITH A CAUSE)]

Why thank you for the review, it wasn't intended to be about the end of life in general but I love seeing what people take from my work.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

yes, and that east/west is a large area of gray....the up/down, north/south seems to be the idea of black and white...clear cut...life ain't....
this is such a good metaphor...and as Steven Wright said..."most people are afraid of heights, not me, i'm afraid of widths"


j.

[The Rock And Roll Cowboy(REBEL WITH A CAUSE)]

Thank you sir for sharing your wisdom.
I always loved Steven Wright. Great quote.