of course
we all have choices sir
one always has a choice
the very same choice
you
and the rest of us
have enjoyed
since birth
we can choose to live
we can choose to die
we can choose to smile
we can choose to cry
about it all
we can choose
to get the facts
to understand
or just wonder why
but we all must choose
you must choose
this car sir
will take you
to tomorrow
so if you’d like
to see tomorrow
get in!
now!
the next car back?
sir
that car
will never see tomorrow
but it will be up
in just a moment — sir
if you prefer
*
rob kistner © 2021
Poetry at: The Sunday Muse
Poetry Pantry at: Poets & Storytellers
I like your point of view, Rob! Me? I was just insulted he sent a car and didn’t come for me himself!!
Bev, you rascal! 😉 …rude isn’t it…
I’m kind of tempted!!
Careful… 😉
we can choose to live
we can choose to die
we can choose to smile
we can choose to cry
Yes, many choices but it’ll eventually be the above two! Love the twist of humour in this take, Rob!
Hank
Thank you Hank. A little word play for fun.
Death cab for cutie? Thanks but I can walk it! 😉
Oh, but according to Iggy, not a bad ride…
Better take the first car! Ably done, Rob.
Thank you Sherry!
Guess one can also choose not to accept the car he sent, preferring to wait for the benz.
Happy Sunday Rob
much love…
Love to you too Gillena. This piece I wrote is purposely confusing — not immediately what it seems. Trouble is, the “dangerous looking” chauffeur is at times, our dark or desperate selves, and we find it impossible, out of fear oe stark uncertainty, to accept the ride that will take us to tomorrow — because tomorrow is not one we may want to face. So we end up choosing the “always lurking” second car, the “death car” — thereby avoiding what may be an unacceptable or terrifying tomorrow. Things are not always as they seem. Sometimes that seemingly sinister chauffeur, offering tomorrow, is the one we need not allow to frighten us, and follow our own clear thinking, snd board the car for tomorrow — in spite of them. Good choices in life can be surrounded with intimidation — but they are still good choices.
OMG, this left my skin crawling! There’s something ominous about some simple questions.
If one is sensitive to subtleness Chrissa, like yourself. Not all people are. It is frequently peoples inability to sense the oft subtle signs of someone seriously considering suicide that leave the one depressed or confused, alone with the decision — an unfortunate reality, and never a good situation. That second car lurks in the background more often, in this insane stressful world, than we care to realize.
Just a hint of the dylan song here (‘you gotta serve somebody’) for me. Choices are a killer, and one always excludes another.
Some even choose the death car, I have lost three friends over the years, to suicide — rather than face their tomorrow. It ‘s sad, shocking, and sometimes utterly surprising. The signs are not always so obvious. At times of stress that 2nd car is always lurking — should we prefer.
I also felt the sinister … like Mr. Slugworth in Wonka. I like how you made the image darker, sharper. Added to the vibe.
Thank you Helen! I am an artist and a writer, hence the name of my site — Image & Verse. I am very sensitive to the appearance of any image on my site, so I try to bring them into their best light. I am a 2D and 3D designer, so I have all the digital tools required to edit and up-rez any image — so I do… and I thoroughly enjoy it. I was also a music performer with my bands for over two decades, and owned a home theater design & consulting company for over 30 years, a talent and experience I called upon in my decade contracted with Lucasfilm LTD — so music and video is also important to me, and a high-level element on my I&V site. That is the madness that drives me in my 17 years of producing and publishing Image & Verse.
To wait might seem so much easier, and some people don’t realise it’s a choice too.
The choice for tomorrow gives the company of the driver, even a hand to close the door.
But even that is too much for some.
I stood by the beds of those who landed in the car of tomorrow anyway…. the shock…
No matter how stern the chauffeur appears, the door he is holding open on the car heading for tomorrow is the one you want Syl — that is, unless one is thinking about ending it all with suicide. If that is the case, wait for the following car — the one that never sees tomorrow… The Death Car.
Me, I chose many years ago not to drive. I was my way of helping to keep death off the roads! lol
Great foresight my friend. I will never be accused of that… 😉
I believe I have far too much curiosity not to want to see tomorrow, even if I think I won’t like the look of it.
I hear ‘ya Rosemary. I keep getting in the front car… 😉
I’m liking that rhyme scheme and the way the words flow nice and easy. Cool song with Iggy also.
Thank you Lisa! I consider this form “free verse rhyme”, rhyme placed effectively in a free verse style. That Iggy song is beautiful, even with a couple places of erotic lyric, thanks to Goren Bregovic wonderful mandolin and guitar playing.
The final choice, take the car or not, reminds me of the California Hotel song. (You can check out but you cannot leave +/-)
..
Excellent comparison Jim!
loved the fantasy/sci-fi feel of the poem.
sometimes we do not understand the choices some made, but it must be a difficult choice…
Not until we walk a mile in their shoes.
It is always good to read a completely different form of writing. We certaining have a choice of which way we go with everything.
Yes, we seem to Rob! Glad you enjoyed… 🙂
Well, sir, I know which car I would get in.
Marion 🙂
Ooh, this is good!
Thank you Jenna. This is, through the glass darkly, my tribute and memoriam to my friends I have lost over the years, to unfortunate decisions — I loved them all! Perhaps this may open the eyes of someone, in real struggle, to realize — while there are no promises, there are definitely choices. The promises we need to make to ourselves.