It was a monstrous mistake
The earth mover mounted the middle barriers and mowed down the Nissan Micra.
Five minutes later and all would have ended well.
Instead her bloodied hands on the steering wheel, airbags inflated windscreen broken
Laughter lost amidst the debris of a terrible double tragedy.
Can I buy you a drink you look like you need one?
She laughed nervously as he set the glass in front of her,
His charm left her glassy eyed and lost at sea.
Five minutes later and it would have been someone else at the bar, someone else he would have warmed his hands on
Her soul would have been free.
© Alison Jean Hankinson
How our lives and futures hang in a balance that is so often beyond our control is something that mesmerises me. For good or bad it can be a split second either way that makes the difference and then we must ask ourselves is this all by chance? Who rolled the dice?
This is my offering for d’Verse open link night.
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Hues of Hankinson 
What an interesting take… and I also imagine the opposite: how we sometimes are on the right side and avoid the disaster…
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Yes definately. I am sure I have been the shadow before and after and escaped with my life. X
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Your poem gave me a chill, Alison.
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I just think that our lives are fragile.
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what an existential poem! very boldy told in the pictures you present of what was and what might have been
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Oh, this is so sad in its realization — the hindsight cannot change what has transpired. Everything is based on a chance perhaps; do we really wield any control over our lives?
-HA
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Fragile balance indeed. We do crawl along the edge of a straight razor. Do we have a predestined death day, or is it happenstance?
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oh dear that is so worrisome…I hope mine is ages away…I still have so much to live for. XXX
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The fragility of life and happenstance..excellent write
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Such a chilling account, Alison! I often wonder what it would be like nearing time of death .. if I will be able to face it..
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Only 5 minutes later. Our lives can change in just a moment.
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Nice last line and this phrase: “someone else he would have warmed his hands on”
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How fragile it is, swinging either way, and making lasting consequences. The last scenario brought chills, yikes.
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So true – how just a matter of minutes and the outcome would be different.
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I love the mood the image set before the words.
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We are fragile and vulnerable in a broken world! I trust a loving God with my life and believe He’s in control. Thanks, Alison, for raising the question.
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Much love to you. XX
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choices matter. we may not always know why events unfold as they do. your piece also seems to remind us to be grateful for the little blessings.
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Everything is intertwined. (K)
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