Fate

the fog rose on the banks of the dark river’s edge

as I sat on the bridge and leaned from the ledge

contemplating my fate as I faltered in life

full of confusion, riddles and often with strife

should I jump into the dark forsaken abyss?

make the sign of the cross, throw heaven a kiss?

I’ve tried all that I could, though the bad times and good

felt the sting of my failures, often misunderstood

through the pages of time, I have waited alone

for a change in this life, but the mystery has grown

where to turn, where to look, where to start

plans I made, I’ve been watching as they fell apart

as I looked down below, a boat slowly did creep

with someone who stood yelling "don’t do it, don’t leap"

who is this that begs me to stop and desist?

must be someone who must know something I missed

he docked on the shore, came and held out his hand

as I gripped it I knew this was not what I planned

as we spoke I did ask why he begged me to stop

with a smile he told of a story that made my jaw drop

he was on this same ledge when his life came undone

then came a crystal clear vision of good things to come

things of love and of happiness, of change and of hope

as if someone above through his plight cast a rope

so I thanked him as he led me down a path to the boat

we laughed as we drank ice cold beers, our bellies did bloat

as the bright sun soon sank and the sky turned bright red

and the darkness of night said it’s soon time for bed

I thanked this dark stranger who held out his hand

and walked down the shore where now tall I did stand

I turned and looked back one more time as he waved

from a life full of darkness on the day I was saved

came a stranger who opened my eyes, who opened the gate

to a new road I’m traveling now, it must have been fate