Here is today’s prompt:

And now, for today’s (optional) prompt. In the world of well-known poems, maybe there’s no gem quite so hoary as Robert Frost’s “The Road Not Taken.” Today, I’d like to challenge you to write a poem about your own road not taken – about a choice of yours that has “made all the difference,” and what might have happened had you made a different choice.

Today’s prompt immediately made me think of a very special person in my life – Coach Tom Stewart. He was the football coach at my high school, and a Hall of Fame coach, retiring as the winningest active coach in Illinois (IHSA) history. He was also full of wonderful sayings, many of which I repeated when I was given the honor of speaking at his memorial service. I hope he is watching over me, and gets the chance to read this one. Photo is of young Tom Stewart circa 1930 give or take.

No Way to Know

There was a piece of advice

that I first received in high school

it went like this;

Kid, your life will be determined by every

decision you make, and every decision you don’t make

In high school you know decisions are coming

study or party, this college or that university

drink and drive or stay sober and behave

be honest, caring and helpful

or stay mad at the world

Life moves on, decisions continue

realizing big or small, they are a daily occurrence

always thinking back to that sage advice

and understanding if I thought too long

fear would render me catatonic

What if I took this job rather than that one

would moving to a new city really change things

what if I’d cancelled the tailgate party

would I ever realize the depth of my errors

or just amble on feeling that I’ve done alright.