Dark Rains Poem by Jackie Allen

One side right, one side left.. one side correct,
one side wrong: the border.. depending on
which side of the county line you live on.
The route known, but not commonly taken...
too rough, too tough... the terrain, the people.
Life too precious.. fears too great to take a chance.

Shy moon, the bashful stars, they hide behind
the face of the mountain, behind the clouds,
as if to say, “No never mind, ” to the morning.
The mission, a dream, a journey ahead.
And no matter what it takes, the high road
to however far it goes, is the one I’m taking.

Lordy, Lordy. There’s something way back there...
something terrible in the morning. But life’s too
precious, fears too great. Should I take a chance?
The wipers swish-swipe...swish-swipe,
black-link they the pathway.... a spectacle....
something’s there, something’s... not...not moving.

The beam of the headlights, the sight ugly
I see an animal....what can it be?
Good gracious. A lifeless body... lying....dead?
Oh, my! Is the body... dead?
Good Lord, is... is the body...a man?
O, mercy me, I’ve got to go back... Should I?

Ping, pang, shrieks the dark rain. Perhaps a border
warning? No, never mind the morning. No matter
where I’m going, no matter the county line....
One side’s always right, one side’s always wrong~
The journey may be rough, it may be tough,
and darker rains are sure to come again.

Still, I’ll take the chance, for life is for the living.