Took a wrong turn somewhere

Took a wrong turn somewhere off in the cold and dark

Missed the right cutoff real late on that foggy first night

Left the group to look at something shiny

Lost my way nosing about in the weeds

Stepped aside for just one moment

Turned around and you were gone

Stopped to rest and fell behind

Lost the trail as the rain grew chill

Did not pick up where I had left off

Pulled one loose thread and it all unraveled

Took my best shot and got my bell rung, real good

Followed some unmarked shortcut to a boring dead-end

Got driven crazy but then found out that road went in circles

Did not see the signpost where I was supposed to turn

Went out too far and could not swim in

Strayed from the herd and lost the beaten path

Got out front early and broke the wind for the pack

Tired out quickly and fell way off to the back

Somehow lost my place and had to start all over again

Stood for a long time waiting in the wrong line

Fell asleep at the wheel while driving on empty

stayed outside at night for way too long in the rain
could not rest in the darkness and after that, overslept

even missed the deadline for just signing up

dropped the ball on another important project

came up short on the final audit

hatched a plot that quickly spun awry

gambled too much on their harebrained schemes

lost precious time on unexpected detours

turned around three times, laid down and just went to sleep

read a book and missed my station

never would stop to ask for directions

followed a pig-track to a high fence

became an expert at cutting all the wrong corners

never really got my head on quite straight

made a lame error that cost us the game

got in pretty late but still went home quite early

took a long lunch break after perusing the news

curried favor among the losers

fawned upon those who fell from power

held beliefs that hindered my promotions

made statements that upset the tight office team

erased all the good, trying to correct the bad

killed all the flowers right along with the weeds

saved some time but lost a lot of money

knelt to pray but thought about work

stopped to ponder and then was fired

tried to speak despite my age

fought off sleep for all to see

foolishly asked the questions they deliberately left unspoken

made a joke at the wrong moment

talked too loud at some important event

stole a horny glance at the wrong woman

fired under uncertain circumstance

stayed out in the sun too long and too often

bathed too much in others’ dirty water

somehow lost sight of company goals

did not conform like a good team player

took no joy in group weenie roasts

sadly, found no pleasure in playing golf

became bored and restless when things grew routine

poked noisily around outside my concerns

quickly changed channels from important messages

turned off too soon from those in control

thought too much of those faroff Ort clouds

spent too much time pondering the infinitesimal

created belief systems shared with nobody else

expected that reason could, in the end, actually prevail

could not support so-called corporate ‘leaders’

went far below and did not re-surface

would not suffer political correctness

never gained traction for my silent agenda

never thought to pray as I lay me down to sleep

forgot to count all of my wayward little sheep

always tried to take the next curve even faster

read too much into the mystery shapes of clouds

stayed too long in some far off land of my dreams

felt too little for the brothers that I worked too hard

foolishly read instead of just watching television

was taught to question but got paid to shut up and obey

took a little time off but did not spend it well

could only despise the corporate agenda

swallowed the hook instead of simply chewing the bait

totally fooled instead of being merely entertained

threw wild punches instead of ducking

a little lost calf that would not bleat

went out the wrong door, never looking back

stayed on the high road beyond the last town

spent more time on the grammar than pondering the meaning

crawled off to die without being hurt

had the right-of-way but I still got flattened

took too much time making my own music

looked away when the flash went off

could not keep my eye on the ball

remained quite blind to the needs of others

was pretty satisfied to just be alone

made loud comments that others deemed inappropriate

swelled with an anger that hindered my progress

always worked towards some fuzzy future something

left standing behind where they do not mow

thought for myself and was ignored

questioned authority and got cuffed quickly down

took my time and finished last

smelled the roses until they all wilted

lived for the moment and my time ran out quickly

held back nothing and grew quite empty

knelt to pray but looked around

stood outside and smoked instead of listening

drove all night in the same city

woke up too early without much to do

found a voice that was both foul and brutal

never outgrew the child inside

went to sleep to the sound of truck traffic

woke up early and smelled the diesel fumes

saw pale sunshine through dirty windows

combed thru the trash that lined all the roads

crept up beside those recently departed

never knowing if it was them or maybe it was me