The Escape Plan

By Jim Hagarty

I wandered in the woods today
Where no human beings were.
But I did not feel alone at all
There were other beings there.

They were watching me, I am quite sure,
But I was not concerned.
I’ve wandered in the woods before
And each time have returned.

Some times I think, “Is this the day
“I happen on a bear
“Or a wolf or mountain lion,
“Just waiting for me there?”

But even if the worst occurs
And danger is around
I have a foolproof plan in mind
To stay above the ground.

I hope my wits don’t fail me
But you can never tell.
My secret strategy, you see,
Is to simply run like hell.

Author: Jim Hagarty

I am a 72-year-old retired journalist, busy recovering from a lifelong career as an unretired journalist. This year marks a half century of my scratching out little fables about life. My interests include genealogy, humour and music. I live in a little blue shack in Canada and spend most of my time trying to stay out of trouble. I am not that good at it. I also spent years teaching journalism. Poor state of journalism today: My fault. I have a family I don't deserve, a dog that adores me, and two cars the junk yard refuses to accept. My prized possessions include my old guitar and a razor my Dad gave me when I was 14 and which I still use when I bother to shave. Oh, and my great-great-grandfather's blackthorn stick he brought from Ireland in the 1850s. I have only one opinion but it is a good one: People take too many showers.