Early Eyes--A Tragic Trilogy

EARLY EYES--A TRAGIC TRILOGY

Early Eyes ( I)

He swipes sleep from early eyes
His shorts and tank on cedar chest
Dressed and out before sunrise
On his personal running quest

That power meeting yesterday
Something that his boss had said
About chances missed along the way
And 'personal change' to get ahead

Eyes heavy, stifling a yawn,
He thinks, perhaps, the boss is right
I'm always up before it's dawn
And always working late at night

Been trying my best to do it all
Keep body, mind, and soul intact
I play the game, run with the ball
It's getting tiresome, that's a fact

Funny, how habits become ingrained
I had better pick up some speed
To the same old streets I've been chained
What's to fear, it's change I need!

I'll take the new cut road back home
How's that for change, a different way
Will morning's sunrise ever come
To lighten up my load this day

Footfall's padding, monotonous drone
Finally, he enters that special place
Athletes commonly call it the 'zone'
Like flying, suspended in time and space



Early Eyes II

She swipes sleep from early eyes
'Up late' nights have gotten her down
Yawning, thinks, too early to rise
Wish I could skip that drive 'cross town

That power meeting yesterday
Something that her boss had said
About chances missed along the way
And 'personal change' to get ahead

Well, perhaps, the boss is right
We'll see, but only time will tell
I've been working late each night
Then up at dawn, it's just plain hell

It's getting tough to beat that clock
Too much work and too much play
Then, going 'round and 'round the block
Hunting parking space each day

Too many stops on the cross town route
Yawning, thinks, if I take that new cut
Might make up the time for coffee take-out
Great to get out of the same old rut

Funny, how habits become ingrained
I had better pick up more speed
To the same old streets I've been chained
What's to fear, it's coffee I need!

Will this morning's sunrise ever come
Reaches over to switch on the light
Thinking, this road's much darker than some
Hits the curve, then swerves way far right.

Nauseous panic and ripping fear
Fill her stomach, she hears her own scream
Oh, God--please let it be only a deer
Wake me up from this horrible dream!!






Early Eyes III

He swipes sleep from early eyes
Thinks, shift changes all week long
Are wearing me thin, and I despise
This feeling that something is all wrong

The boss had said just yesterday
At the patrolman's weekly meeting
Change was needed, a better way
To share the load, not take a beating

Partner calls in, his shift now double
Heading toward town, takes the new cut
Still dark, blind curve, ahead there's trouble
Guy in the road, it's some running nut

Down a bit farther, he turns it around
As a car speeds by him without any lights
Thinks, double trouble, turns on his sound
Dawn and dusk, even worse than the nights

Funny, how habits become ingrained
He pedals it hard to the floor
Too long now to this job I'm chained
I need to open a brand new door

Praying, must catch that speeder before
They hit that curve, don't see that nut
Thinking, enough bloody highway gore
Every time it hits me straight in the gut

Finally gets there, a minute too late
Swerves mark the road , woman's crying
Another statistic met his date with fate
One more wounded, dead, or dying

Will this morning's sunrise ever come
With heavy heart, he radios in
Eleven more hours before he goes home
Sunrise signals a new day to begin