DON'T DRIVE TOO FAST
TODAY I WAS DRIVING THE ROAD VERY FAST,
IN MY SHINY NEW RED MOTOR CAR
THE CAR WAS A DREAM, AND IT PURRED AS I DROVE,
THROUGH THE GARDENS AND TREES IN THE PARK.
I KNEW THAT THE SPEED I WAS DOING WAS WRONG
THAT CHILDREN CAME OFTEN TO PLAY.
SO I KEPT MY EYES OPEN, BUT STILL DROVE TOO FAST,
AND SAW NO ONE PLAYING THAT DAY.
THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN I HEARD A LOUD NOISE,
A BANG ON THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR.
I SLAMMED ON THE BREAKS, AND QUICKLY JUMPED OUT,
I COULDN'T BELIEVE WHAT I SAW.
A VERY LARGE DENT WITH ALL THE PAINT MISSING,
LORD KNOWS WHAT WOULD BE THE EXPENSE.
THE COST OF REPAIRS, NOT TO MENTION MY TIME LOST,
WHAT HAD HAPPENED JUST DIDN'T MAKE SENSE
WELL I WAS REAL MAD, WHO COULD DO SUCH A THING,
I SEARCHED FOR THE CULPRIT TO BLAME.
AND THERE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, CUT AND BLEEDING,
A CHILD LAY CRYING IN PAIN.
MY HEART STARTED POUNDING, I QUICKLY RAN TO HIM
AND KNELT ON THE ROAD AT HIS SIDE.
"ARE YOU ALRIGHT SON ? I JUST DIDN'T SEE YOU, "
WHAT WILL HAPPEN I THOUGHT, IF HE DIES.
"I'M REAL SORRY MISTER, FOR THE DENT IN YOUR CAR,
BUT NOBODY WANTED TO STOP,
MY SISTERS HURT BAD AND SHE'S NEEDING SOME HELP,
AND SO I THREW THAT BIG ROCK ."
"WHERE IS SHE ?" I ASKED, " AND WHAT HAPPENED?
IT LOOKS AS IF YOU'RE HURTING TOO."
"SHE'S OVER THERE MISTER, AND LYING REAL STILL,
I'M SCARED AND DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.
WE WERE BOTH CLIMBING TREES,
JUST HAVING SOME FUN, AND WE FELL, IT WAS ONLY A GAME,
AND MISTER I'M SCARED, THE IDEA WAS MINE,
IT'S MY FAULT, I'M THE ONE THEY WILL BLAME."
"I DON'T THINK THEY WILL , " AND I GAVE HIM A HUG,
"LET'S MAKE SURE THAT YOU'LL BOTH BE OKAY."
SO I CALLED NINE ONE ONE, THE MEDICS SOON CAME,
AND TOOK BOTH THE CHILDREN AWAY.
I FELT SUCH RELIEF, ONCE THE CHILDREN WERE SAFE,
AND STARTED ON BACK TO MY CAR,
WHEN I HEARD A VOICE SAYING, "HELLO, THIS IS GOD,
DO YOU KNOW JUST HOW LUCKY YOU ARE?
YOU SEE, THAT WAS ME ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD,
AND I THREW THE ROCK, SO YOU'D SEE,
HOW MUCH YOU'VE BEEN LIVING A LIFE FOR YOURSELF,
WITH NEVER ONE MOMENT FOR ME."
I NEEDED TO GET YOUR ATTENTION,
MAKE YOU STOP, AND SEE WHERE YOU'VE GONE WRONG.
IF YOU HAD RUN OVER THAT LITTLE BOY, SON,
THE JAIL HOUSE IS WHERE YOU'D BELONG.
YOU NEED TO SLOW DOWN FOR A MOMENT,
TAKE IT EASY, LIFE ISN'T A RACE.
IF YOU DON'T, THEN YOU KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN?
FOR SURE, YOU'LL FALL FLAT ON YOUR FACE."
"OH, I KNOW JUST HOW HARD YOU'VE BEEN WORKING,
AND YOU LIKE ALL THAT MONEY CAN BUY.
BUT REMEMBER, YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOU,
IT ALL GETS LEFT THERE, WHEN YOU DIE.
WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU GAVE ME A THOUGHT,
OR GAVE THANKS AT THE END OF EACH DAY.
YOU NEVER SPEND TIME WITH YOUR FAMILY,
AND WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU PRAYED ? "
YOU'VE BEEN LIVING YOUR LIFE IN THE FAST LANE,
WITH THINGS THAT YOU DON'T EVEN NEED
FANCY HOUSES, AND CARS, AND GADGETS GALORE,
YOUR LIFE HAS BEEN DRIVEN BY GREED.
SO I THOUGHT IT WAS TIME THAT A THREW YOU A ROCK,
HIT YOU OVER THE HEAD, SO TO SPEAK.
WITHOUT ME, MATERIAL WEALTH LOSES VALUE,
I'M THE ONE THAT YOU REALLY SEEK.
"YOU SEE SON, I LOOK BACK WITH FONDNESS,
TO THOSE INNOCENT DAYS OF YOUR YOUTH.
YOU AND I HAD A SPECIAL RAPPORT WAY BACK THEN,
FOR YOU KNEW THAT MY WORD WAS THE TRUTH.
BUT NOW THAT YOU'RE GROWN YOU'VE FORGOTTEN,
THE FRIENDSHIP THAT WE USED TO SHARE.
YOU'VE FORGOTTEN JUST HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU,
YOU'VE FORGOTTEN, JUST HOW MUCH I CARE.
SINCE THEN MY LIFE HAS NEW MEANING,
I'M THANKFUL FOR ALL THAT LIFE BRINGS,
I STILL HAVE MY HOUSE, AND MY FANCY RED CAR,
BUT IT'S GOD THAT I THANK FOR ALL THINGS.
AND AS FOR THAT DENT, WELL, IT'S STILL ON MY CAR,
A REMINDER TO THIS VERY DAY,
HOW DIFFERENT MY LIFE WOULD HAVE TURNED OUT TO BE,
IF I'D TAKEN THAT CHILDS LIFE AWAY.
Judi Whittaker
copyright 2001
