An Exquisite Stranger's Tales. Justin Mainhart

any tragedy,

      You will most certainly hear,

      “…and now, the healing can begin.”

      Anytime you hear that,

      Just know,

      It’s only a short wait before the next one.

      The stage is being cleaned off,

      The props are being set,

      It’s just a matter of time.

      There is no time for healing…

      The odds are stacked against it all.

      Life is like a big card game…

      Fingers crossed you flop a pair,

      Hoping for something on the turn,

      Then praying for trips on the river.

      But,

      you can’t buck the house.

      God is the dealer,

      And you may never win.

      It’s all simply chance.

      Like picking change up off the concrete,

      You may just pick up the coin,

      But you may also cut yourself on the concrete.

      It’s all a 50/50 chance.

      It’s a flip of the coin.

      It’s a roll of the dice.

      But everyone should know by now,

      The coin is doubled headed.

      The dice are loaded.

      The table’s tilted.

      The playing field isn’t even.

      The dealer isn’t on the level.

      The game is rigged.

      It leaves everything on you.

      Makes you wonder about your choices,

      About freewill.

      Looking back,

      It’s all laid out in front of you,

      Like forked lightning in the darkest of night.

      All your choices,

      All your decisions,

      All your mistakes, heartaches and sorrows.

      You see it all.

      And it’s all,

      just a 50/50 chance.