Trading Places

You can tell by where the lines are drawn in his face –

He’s fought each battle between a rock and a hard place

Some want the victory, but none of the war,

Or at least one that they can win.

Some choose their weapons but not their words,

So choosing wisely you ask him:

‘What would you do, would he trade places with you?’

And if you could both live all over again,

            Knowing what life has in store for you now,

And if you were told how to begin,

Would you feel that you’ve chose your end, somehow?

Every other sail on the horizon sails fuller than your own –

From your hill, the valley is greener beyond

While you were dreaming, life goes on,

            so before we’re gone ….

You may think his sunrise is your sunset

But you can pretend all you want to,

            The cards are dealt, and

            Your money is bet.

Would you trade off all to play his hand?

None of us can be said to fully understand

Trading places is not as simple as choosing a new name

            (or dealing into a new game, is it?)

(but) choose another card and

            Keep playing the game,

            Keep playing the game.

Trading places is not so simple as choosing a name -

            Choose another card and

            Keep playing the game.

c. 2003 michael a. guy

[not typed from journal until 1/14/2003]