"Advice in the Wind"

"Advice in the Wind"

I just lost my job; my car’s been repossessed
No reason to wake up each day and get dressed.

My rent’s overdue and I’m down on my luck.
My girlfriend just dumped me; she says I’m a schmuck.

My life is now over; no reason to cry.
With nothing to live for; I might as well die.

I climb up the stairs as I head for the roof
I guess I’m a loser; I don’t need more proof.

I stand on the edge and I look all around.
There’s twenty-four stories from here to the ground.



I hold out my arms while preparing to fall.
Abruptly the wind blows up into a squall.

I try to lean forward to take my swan dive;
The wind holds me back as though it is alive!

And then, through the wind and the fog and the mist,
A touch on my face, it feels like I’ve been kissed.

I step back; I’m startled and just a bit scared.
Now, THIS is not something for which I’m prepared!

A sound like a whisper, a touch on my face,
The gust wraps around me just like an embrace.

It pushes me back ‘till I’m next to the wall
And lashes me hard, ‘till I’m ready to fall.

Then, ever so gently, drops down to a breeze,
I gasp as I struggle to stay on my knees.

An aura, an image, a shadowy shape,
A soft female voice whispers “You can’t escape.”

“Though death would be easy, don’t make that mistake.
Live life to the fullest for simply life’s sake.

Each day is a gift that is worth more than gold.
Adventures are waiting as your days unfold.”

Wind ruffles my hair, then caresses my cheek.
My head’s full of wonder; I’m too awed to speak.

Then suddenly, calm … no air movement at all.
Wait … why am I here? I can’t seem to recall.

I head for the stairs; I’ve got so much to do.
I can’t waste time here, just enjoying the view.

As I reach the door, I can hear a faint voice,
“You’ve opted for life and you’ve made the right choice.”


Rhyming couplets
11 -11 syllable count


The prompt for this poem was to use this quote as inspiration:
"A certain amount of opposition is a great help to a man. Kites rise against, not with, the wind. " - Lewis Mumford

I felt that anguish, fear, rejection and hopelessness were the source of opposition - but man's underlying faith would prevail and help him to struggle through and resolve his problems. I used "air" to represent his battle within himself as he realized that his life was not worthless and was indeed worth living. The personification of the air could also be interpreted as an angelic intervention, which builds on man's faith in himself.