The Ballad of Average Joe

Average Joe was a nice kinda guy,
Gentle and calm, wouldn't hurt a fly.
He tried his best, where ever he could,
To do the things, that he always should.

He met a girl, so sweet and kind,
And fell in love, compatible minds.
She could stop the World, with her warming smiles,
Light up the sky, with her twinkling eyes.

Her delicate frame, in his arms,

Making her laugh, tickling palms.
Their dreams were big, worries were small,
They had a song, that said it all.

They walked hand in hand, under blankets of stars,
Drank cups of latte, in late night bars.
Sat in the harbour, watching boats pass by,
Dreaming of life, under a blood-red sky.

It's fair to say, he fell for her good,
He gave her his heart, as much as he could.
But as is the case, in matters of Heart,
Her future life, he could take no part.

Time and fate, those inexplicable things,
Conspired against him, that's what life brings.
Another life, she had to return,
Average Joe felt empty, no fires to burn.

He kissed her cheeks, her tears he tasted,
It was not their time, his heart was wasted.
He watched her go, disappeared from view,
His mouth saying silently, the words 'I Love You'.

The years passed by, oh so quick.
Average Joe made a life, brick by brick.
She never left his mind, that much is clear,
Hope springs eternal, and she was always near.

A chance encounter, on a train,
Their old feelings, were just the same.
He remembered her smile, still stopping the World,
Her twinkling eyes, and then his mind unfurled.

The thing with Joe, he's a creature of habit,
He sees a chance, he just has to grab it.
Everything became, so quickly intense,
As well as the shame, the guilty pretence.

The bricks fell down, in a pile of rubble,
Average Joe had caused, so much trouble.
He didn't intend, we know that is true,
But he'd lost her again, and his heart turned blue.

Time and Fate, conspired again,
Ripped from his grasp, so much pain.
They could never be, alone together,
Always apart, now doomed forever.

Old Joe was done, he looked to the abyss,
Tried to see sense, to find what was amiss.
He had to live, to carry on,
Even though he knew, she was always the one.

He made a pledge, to remove from his mind,
All memory of her, no feelings to find.
But Joe has always, been a slave to his fate,
Deep down he knows, she is his soul-mate.

So here we are, Average Joe today,
More years have passed, he's a little grey.
He walks to work, from the railway station,
Thinking about, other destinations.

Every day he leaves, to go home at 4.
Down the road, to the station front door.
He passes the stand, where the flowers are sold,
Underneath a signal, from a railway so old.

The only way, that Joe can cope,
Is to have a wish, just a small lick of hope.
He walks that road, anticipation tingling,
That the girl he met, in the crowds will be mingling.

It's only a dream, it can't come true,
The girl is gone, the one he knew.
He never stops thinking, or giving up hope,
Did I mention? It's how he copes.

All he wants is one day to be different,
A change from the norm, another pavement.
His eyes glaze over, as he thinks,
Of the following dream, into which he sinks.

As he wanders through, at quarter past four,
He scans the room, across the floor.
Underneath the signal, next to the flower stand,
Sits a beautiful woman, two lattes in hand.

Their eyes meet, across the station,
Finally at last, they have the same destination.
Her warming smile, makes his World ... stop.

Learn more about this author, Mark T. Andrews.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

---

Add your voice

Know something about Poetry: Waiting?
We want to hear your view. Write now!