The sweet, small voice
tells me the enticing words and,
although a hunch says
it’s the wrong thing to do,
the sweet, small voice says it’s OK.
And so I do it anyway
with dire consequences
most of the time.
The sweet, small voice
tells me that a little cake
and soda will not kill me,
contrary to the doctor’s advice;
and so I partake, but before long
I am hospitalized
because the sugar levels have hit the roof.
The sweet, small voice
tells me that parents aren’t worth visiting;
that home is far and I was there just the other day,
and so it becomes a year or two
after the last visit;
but before long they pass on;
alone, lonely, and dejected.
The sweet, small voice
tells me that I am a fool because
I am not seizing glaring opportunities
to make me rich quicker;
and before long
I take what is not mine
without any intention to pay back.
And so I end up in jail
or dead.
The sweet, small voice
tells me to take just one for the road
to cool the nerves;
and to enjoy the hard-earned salary.
Before long I have taken too much.
I quickly forget that I shouldn’t drink and drive;
I end up in a fatal accident
because I overtook when danger was lurking.
The sweet, small voice
tells me that I am still young,
that the grass on the other side is greener,
that the food is better over the fence,
even though the years are showing.
I quickly forget that I promised to stand by her
Through the rocking years;
Before long I end up taking another,
I end up leaving my children and spouse,
devastated and heartbroken,
when they needed me most.
The sweet, small voice
Tells me that I am the most important person in the meeting,
because I am the best paid employee around.
But my ego balloon quickly pops
when the stranger seated next to me,
the one to whom I was bragging a few seconds before,
is called upon to describe how he rose through the ranks,
to become the Africa Region CEO
of the blue chip company that I work for.
The sweet, small voice
has taught me to trust it
at my own peril.
And therefore I must learn quickly
to always trust my heart,
my visceral sense
or my gut feeling.
Never again
shall I allow myself
to be misled by,
the sweet, small voice.
