the consequences of insight

the boy stood at the water's edge,
then lay down facing forward.
every ripple, every wave,
a counterpoint to the trees
soaring above as sentinels.

he concentrated. first, one ripple,
then another; still, dozens more
followed suit as waves rising up with
images of his life yet to come,
and the varied permutations
resulting from his choices.

soon, it became a cacophony of
confusion, until a single tone rang
out, resonating from the wooden
flute he skillfully wielded. the array
of images resolved into one, though
at the expense of his soaring hopes.
for now he tasted of the price he must
pay to set the world to rights.

4 April 2009 by Glen Alan Woods