Caution

I could smell the danger.
It was everywhere.
Danger to the right of me,
Danger to the left,
but not a scent of remorse
or wisdom.
I threw caution to the wind,
but the wind was stronger
than I could imagine
and caution came flying back
at me.
She hit me hard
and knocked me to my knees.
She pushed me down
and rubbed my face in the street.
I tried to complain
with a mouthful of gravel.
She pinned my arms behind me
and rested her substantial weight
upon me.
She grabbed me by the short hair
on my head
and smacked my globe
against the road
not once,
but twice.
I struggled,
but she moved my arms
higher against my back.
The pain was excruciating.
I could hear her pant
from her own exertion.
She leaned in close
and whispered in my ear,
“You really should be more cautious.”
With that, she disappeared
and slowly I was able to rise.
I sniffed the wind
and smelled the danger ahead.
This time I turned and walked away,
living to fight another day.
Lesson learned.
Sometimes it’s better to embrace caution
than it is to throw her to the wind.