The Road to Lonely

A man in black pulled me aside
before I came to Earth
He said "I will prepare you
for the life after your birth.
Tomorrow you will find yourself
beginning a great race,
and if you want to finish first
you cannot slow your pace!
The road to your success is long
and overgrown with thorns...
the winner gets a kingdom,
so ignore the cries and mourns!"
The next day, I entered the race
advised by my dark friend,
packed goods and hurried off to be
the first to teach the end.
I noticed to the left and right
were those who'd gone before...
at first, I saw them seldom,
as I went, I saw them more.
Some had fearful faces
as they cried out for my hand,
to help them return to the road
and free them from the sand...
but, I'd received a warning
of the ones stuck on the quick,
and I knew that I would join them
if I did not scorn their trick.
Further down the road I happened
on a boy who couldn't see...
he asked directions to the road...
I passed him quietly.
And, I gave not what he wanted
but, I gave him lots of space!
(The road led to MY kingdom
and, he might have won the race)
Then, I saw an older couple
who were freezing on the snow...
asking only for a blanket
from my stock of five, or so,
and yet, I told them I was "sorry",
and that I had none to spare,
for the man in black had told me
I would find those liars there!
Then, I saw a little baby
needing milk and food to eat
crying WILDLY for her mother...
who lay starving by the street.
As I passed, I called out gently
"Over THIS way, baby dear...
for it's HERE you'll find your mother!
I must GO..the end is NEAR!

All these people seemed so HONEST,
and, their stories were so REAL!
(But, the man in black had warned me
that I must be "hard as STEEL!" )
So, I continued unrelenting
as the MULTITUDES cried out...
'til I reached my destination...
where my heart was filled with doubt,
for, I noticed that beyond the line...
not ONE SOUL could I see!
It was only dark and LONELY
at the finish line for me!
And, my heart which was so selfish
was then overcome with GUILT, for
the EMPTINESS before me...
was the KINGDOM...I had BUILT!
I had made MYSELF a loser...
and the "prize" was not to gain!
(And rightly so..how could I "win"
while others are in pain?)

So....
I'm going back to help all those
who asked my time to loan!
(For gardens...even for a "King"
grow not, 'til seeds are sown)
And even should I tarry
'til ANOTHER wins the race...
when I return...I'll wear a smile...
upon this saddened face.

And though my hands are bleeding
from the wounds of ALL my labors...

I'll NOT return...
'til I can fill...
THIS land...
with "FRIENDS", and "NEIGHBORS"!

KEVIN O. AVERETT