Life in Increments

I have been the man: the seventh son  
I have been the fool: goofy and fun  
I have been the rain: tears streaming down  
I have been the jest:  from a small town  
I have been the coil: twisted and turned  
I have been the bars: street-wise learned  
I have been the bird: currents to glide  
I have been the briar: filled with pride  
I have been the hero: but not too many  
I have been the king: grandiose dreams  
   
         Woulda, coulda, shoulda
   
I survived the lance:  outrun them all  
I survived the tempt: some I did fall  
I survived the battle:  I have the scars  
I survived the lights:  I was a film star  
I survived the growl: my throat is raw  
I survived the ardor: her low-cut bra  
I survived the crash:  just inward hurts  
I survived the crave: swishing skirts  
I survived the years:  without a key  
I survived the child:  that would be me  
   
               It was a hell of a ride
   
©December 3, 2016 / Jerry Pat Bolton