This is your last trip they said

This is your last trip they saidAnd we strongly advise against it

It is too soon

You are still depleted from the last time round

And have not got the strength

It cant be helped I said

This soul that was my child has married foolishly

And is at riskI have to go to her and be her baby

You cannot help they said

She has chosen a path of suffering

And is deluded

She will sacrifice herself in vain

Nevertheless I will do what I can I said

I will have a go

Make the best of it you knowPut on a brave face and cheer her up a bit

You are a fool they said weak and rebellious You always have been volatile and reckless

You have made enemies who will target you

And now you are in dangerNothing new there then I saidCant sit around all day you know

Have to get moving

Show him I know who he isThen this is your last chance they saidTo try to get it right

Well display the available options

And you must choose blindfoldCarry on Old Sport I said

Display away

Ill probably make a hash of it

I usually do

Then over here is worldliness they said

It will make you successful rich and famous

Keep you in the public eye

And always on the tele

OK I said that looks a lot of fun

Bit of a strain too though I should imagine

Always on show rather an effort that

High maintenance you know what I mean

This is more in keeping with your temperament they said

It is Exploration Adventure Soldiering the Outdoor Life

But youre so depleted after the last time round

You havent got the strength and are rather ill

Thats a shame I saidI should have enjoyed that

But maybe I can have adventures in a wheel-chair

Whizzing about a bit you know

You ought to stop larking about they said

For you will be consistently at risk

Targeted and assailed by unseen forces Wounded by those you trust implicitly

And powerless to resist because you love themYoull attract weak and helpless men they said

Because you need the injured to ease your suffering

You will know more than can be of use to you

And not enough of what serves your interests best

For you look into the eyes of others and see their painYou will try several times to come back they said

But will not succeed

For you will live much longer than you planned for

In hopes of achieving the unachievableThough this is unlikely they said

For in our view you have not the qualities to survive

Let alone achieve

And we repeat we advise against this journey

Blindfold you chose your gifts they said

The bare necessities needed to survive

And these are the options you have chosenTENACITY FORTITUDE HONESTY and COMMON SENSE

We are happy with these options they said

And believe you have chosen wisely

For in spite of all we have said we love you dearly

And wish you Bon Voyage

As this is your final trip they said

You are offered a BONUS gift

Which is not chosen and cannot be exchanged

You may open this gift at the moment of departure

Thats great I said Im very grateful

Im sure it will prove most useful

And as the voyage was underway

I opened up the bonus to look inside

The gift was RAPTURE(from MESSAGES FROM THE EDGE copyright E. J. Ward 2015)