Stop! Thief!

The Car Not Taken

with a nod to Robert Frost

Two unlocked cars, black and red, looked good,
And sorry I could not steal them both
And be one felon, at length I stood
Looking at one as long as I could.
To leave one behind I was quite loath.

A coin toss guided me. I took
The red one (I hoped) the better car
Because it was newer. One last look
at the black car. It was time to hook
My new ride up, then vamoose afar.

The car not taken, with keys in sight,
was a beauty in metallic black.
I thought I'd sneak back that same night
and claim this vision of delight,
But—Darn it!—I never made it back.

I'm telling my story with a sigh
And have told it numerous times since.
Two unlocked cars looked good, and I—
I took the newer one, and I see why
To me, in jail, it's made no difference.

by Janice Canerdy
both in volume 5 issue 1

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