Last Chance Saloon

"Don't be so glum!" the bartender said

A grin spreading across his wide shiny head

"I saw what you did, it was quite the botch

Lives like yours are the best to watch"

He had a friendly laugh and served me a drink

Then gave me the space to have a long think

This place was odd, I don't know when I arrived

But I guess that meant I had survived?

I felt sorry for myself but also very calm

Ignoring the echoed ghosts of sirens and alarm

I could not stand, my legs were paralyzed

And for some reason I wasn't surprised

A pianist was playing in the dusty saloon

I soaked in the flow of the slow somber tune

I realized then, I couldn't see anyone's face

In confusion I muttered "what is this place?"

The bartender reappeared wearing his signature grin

The rest of his face was nothing but skin

"This is a place to relax and reflect

Untangle the strings of cause and effect

Take a long break

Face your mistake

And finally, when you are sure

Return to your life, right through that door"

I had a life? I tried to remember

My eyes had went wide when I saw the first ember

It jumped from the pot to the kitchen blind

In that moment of panic I had lost my damn mind

The fire spread fast, I could only taste smoke

An ear-splintering sound as the beam above broke

It fell, it crushed, destroyed every bone in my legs

All of this had happened because I wanted some eggs

I blinked twice and I was back in the bar

I rolled up my trousers and studied every last scar

Over minutes, days, months I came to terms with my death

Until finally, I took a deep breath

I said my goodbyes to the nice bartender

Grimacing as I stood, my legs were still tender

I hobbled my way out of the Last Chance Saloon

My body melted away into the light of the moon

It was that morning, I was back from the dead

With a wide grin I sprung out of bed

I had learned a lot from my time ethereal

With a new lease of life, I made myself some cereal