Choices by Bascom, George S., M.D.

 $Unique_ID{AST00251}

$Title{Choices}

$Author{Bascom, George S., M.D.}

$Subject{poetry}

$Journal{}

$Volume{}

$Date{1982}

$Log{}

                                 LATE ASTERS

                                   Choices

It is said that every yes is no,

And having tried that thought against my thumb,

I find it sharp and true.

Scant time and flagging energy

Means yes to this

Must be a no to something else perhaps as good.

That makes sense.

It bears the tragic stamp of truth.

But every no is not a yes.

Some are emptiness,

A blank,

A vacancy

That else were filled

With joy or madness,

Sin, laughter,

Songs, adventure

Or defeat--

Some color, noise, or movement

That would mark the time and place

As having once been stirred and put to use

By that strange beauty,

Wild and full of risk,

That we call life.