The Deepest Danger of a Successful Career

Off to work in the early morn
Gone I am before the dawn

Then at night I’m home after dark
My job’s such a challenge, not a walk in the park

A wife and two daughters are the stated reason
That I work so hard, no matter the season

No time for me with them to have any fun
Sorry my girls, duty calls and I’ve gotta run

Why mommy do we never get to see our dad?
Doesn’t he like us, at us is he mad?

No my honeys mom replies dutifully
He loves us all dearly, oh so beautifully

But in her eyes they can see the lies
The lonely stream is passing by

Her man he works from sun to sun
Always work and never fun

Pre-school, grad school, high school pass in a blur
The girls I loved so much aren’t what they were

My erstwhile soulmate is respected in the community
She has many friends and can be without me with impunity

I’m lonely yes but so content
That the bond among my girls is strong as cement

And then at last I’m out of steam
I’m tired now if you know what I mean

There’s no more bullets left in the gun
I’ve had enough, no more wanting to run

It’s time at last to power down
And now be a man about the town

Gladness fills my heart at what I’ll pursue
With my family and me, oh what we will do

I’m rushing home on wings of fire
At last my girls it’s time to retire

Let’s go away to sit in the sun
My career is over, now it’s time for fun

With flowers in hand and a thrill in my heart
It’s far too long we’ve been apart

As the door opens up I feel the first tinge of worry
It seems that the three are going out in a hurry

They’re on their way, my girls and my wife
They’ve much to do and I’m not part of their life

One by one they kiss me as out they run
Long ago without me they learned to have fun

Now I stand beside the empty door
And I see to them I’ve been a bore

In a flash I turn and run them after
Hearing them full of smiles and laughter

Please take me along I beg them please
Though I’m upright, I feel on my knees

Between the three they pass a glance
Will they give me a last chance

My breath has stopped while I await
Their decision and my fate

You know, says wife, we’ve waited quite long
But you’re a lucky man that our love is strong

You can come along tonight
The four of us will be a sight

Heart aflutter I take a deep breath
Career blindness almost caused my death

What a fool I’ve been I now realize
Now fate has cut me down to size

What was I thinking all those years
I missed out on hugging my dears

I’ll make up for it I vow to my lucky star
As arm in arm we walk towards the car