CHOICES

Sometimes I sit and I wonder
of all the things I wanted to be
growing up I could feel the thunder
so I fail to understand why
it never came to be

A chair
a couch
an abandoned car
light a match and start a fire
was so exciting for me to see
hear the fire engines sound the choir
as the spinning lights they catch my eye
and the rushing water fighting flame
oh
how it all spurned my claim
as I left the scene completely wired

Picking meters for spare change
when policemen come
we start the game
I run and hide and I think I got away
when they find me
I don't know what to say
In the car they ask how much
I say I had no such luck
they drop me off without a rant
as I look back
they're smiling from the jingle in my pants

Teachers look and act so cool
sitting at their desk in my old school
open the book and read a story
do your numbers with no worry
but watch that you don't cheat on test
or make it bad for all the rest
they take your hand and crack the whip
or direct you to a corner and have you sit
they mark your papers good or bad
and write in a secret book they keep for tabs

A fireman
a policeman
a teacher
these were my choices
growing up I lost touch with all of my voices
abused
reused
refused
and quite fooled growing up I was
with my life sliding off the charts
I picked up and retooled for a longer stay

Art
photography
and cooking I can do
these are the gifts that fell in my shoes
so as I look back and admire my first choices
I work hard at these gifts and my real voices
and thank God everyday for filling my shoes