Double back Bill

The road moves from where you are now to the place you go next.

     The choices along the way range from dismal to such a thrill.

     When I think of all the second choices that I have made

I can’t help but to think of Double back Bill.

Along the way, all the roads, rivers and paths

     Split and divide at each turn along the way.

     It seems that no matter the intentions

New routes are confronted each and every day.

When we read the paper or watch the world’s endless play

     To find amusement in the fact that we are here still

     I find myself thinking about procrastinating

And am afraid that I might end up like old Double back Bill.

There are no words I can say that will lead or compel you

     To believe that what I say is some how true.

     It seems that if there is a secret to find,

That finding it is always up to you.

Some people like a home that’s built from wood

     And some are partial to one built of bricks.

     In some places on the earth it takes a genius

Just to build a shack with sticks.

I digress and I find that I often do.

     It seems that I always have and probably always will.

     In writing this ditty, I’m beginning

To see a lot of myself in remembering Double back Bill.

Did you ever feel like there were too many choices

     Or perhaps there were none at all?

     How about having something important to say

But having nobody you want to call?

In order to reach the bottom of any valley

     Or climb to the top of a nearby hill

     One needs to make plans and get moving

Or find that you are stalled like old Double back Bill.

I have choices I must make before the choices

     Simply get up and go away.

     I’ve gotten on my hands and knees,

I have knelt down to pray.

Worry is a work horse whose weigh

     Can severely weaken ones back.

     A worrier states that the largest earthquake

Begins with just the smallest crack.

Attitude is everything, I’ve heard that once

     And some times I hear it still.

     Attitude is something that never got in the way

Or caused any confusion for Double back Bill.

I started with thoughts of roads

      And the paths that each of us takes.

     Some love the streets through the city

And others find peace in the lane by the lakes.

Trials, troubles and tribulations are a trio

     Of words that I often use.

     Desolate, damned and despair

Are three others we could all stand to lose.

There are times when I can be a hoot

    And other times when I am such a pill.

     I’m hoping it’s like that for most folks.

I’m pretty certain it was that way for Double back Bill.

All the sand that one captures while sleeping

     Couldn’t fill the contents of a little bag.

     There is no joy in finding yourself crabby

Or in being an endless nag.

I travel the byways in search of things that are important,

     For things that are tangible and real.

     This is one of the lessons I learned and remembered

From the time I spent in conversing with old Double back Bill.

From the second I wake up until the last

     Breath I take late in the night,

     I ask for God to help me. I want

To do more of the things I do right.

When the road I am on is headed westward

     And I can see a sunset from the top of a hill

     This is where I will rest for a moment, relax

And turn my thoughts to Double back Bill.

I find myself searching for reason, in locations

     Where I am pretty sure no reason exists.

     The lure of the unknown has always been

Just about impossible for me to resist.

The spring is upon us, soon the banks

     Will be ripe with sage and with summer dill.

     The time will creep on by like it always does

And I probably won’t think at all of Double back Bill.

Life is an ocean with tides, tides that

     Are always rising and forever falling.

     The Siren’s are life’s mysteries, with songs

That are ever softly calling.

Watch the trees and see the wind dance,

     Listen to the laughter no matter where you are.

     See the amazement of a child

With a firefly captured in a jar.

Life is short but it’s the longest event

     We will ever come to know.

     Stop for a short time, just to rest

Or to watch the river flow.

Stars at night and sunsets are two of nature’s marvels

     That I can never seem to find my fill.

     I am happy that for a while today

I had thoughts and kind remembrances of Double back Bill.