Third Rails
by Odin Roark

One’s temptable 20's say “flirt with it.”
40's say “not on my watch.”
60's say “made it across the tracks.”

Home free’s reality.

Off the full-retiree goes.
Golf course by day.
Country club by night.

Home free for some.

Off the semi-retiree goes.
Part time work at home by day.
TV at night for armchair ventures.

Most arrive there.
Some realize more choice.

Third rail respect
sees no difference
from 20 to 60 years and beyond.
Accepts ubiquitous warnings.
Never flirts.
Never assumes immunity.
Never considers chancing too far.

Third rail addiction
knows not retirement,
remaining ready to wander through unlocked doors,
strolls through parks at night,
views chance-taking as senility-deterrent.

Most forget…

Consciousness can wane,
and like a a subway schedule,
mobility coming along less often after sundown,
often with fewer start and stop choices.

Still

With anxious rush hours easily avoided
more leisure movement thrives,
car to car,
platform to platform,
late nights,
early mornings,
yesterday’s have-tos left to others.

For a choice few…

A venturesome life learned early
remains an option,
an awareness,
a forever reminder
that forward motion never advances by itself.

Those same few…
Understand Time's playful third rail,
the click and clack,
of sparks and fire for mischievous die-hards.