Sunday, This Is Water

title inspired by David Foster Wallace

If the cat hadn't nuzzled against me,
I would have left the house earlier.

Man, if only I hadn't stopped for coffee
At that particular shop,
I would have gotten here on time.

If the line hadn't been so long,
And if that guy hadn't spent forever talking to the cashier,
And all those orders hadn't been so elaborate,
Then I wouldn't have missed the train,
And I would have made it here on time.

But if the cat hadn't nuzzled against me,
And I hadn't stopped for coffee,
And the line hadn't been so long,
And that guy hadn't spent forever talking to the cashier,
And all those orders hadn't been so elaborate,
And I hadn't missed the train,
Then no one would have seen the woman struggling with her walker.
No one would have been there to help her down the steps.

And on the next train,
I wouldn't have seen that stellar makeup,
Which made me smile and gave me an excuse
To make a friend smile too.

I would have made it here on time.
I should have gotten here on time.
But honestly?
I'm glad I didn't.