It happens,

It happens,

When least predicted.

Bowling along,

Feeling a rare moment

Of satisfaction

With where you are.

At home in mind

And body,

All things in equilibrium,

A hint of pleasure

You have managed

To travel so far

Along the road

Without feeling

The need to stop,

Take it easy,

Wait for a bus.

Which is altogether,

Too much fuss.

Or spend a little

Precious time

In appreciation,

Of the surroundings.

When for good,

Or bad,

All you had

Was the need to

See what might lie

Over the ridge,

On the far side,

Across the bridge,

No matter how wide.

Why stop to worry,

All bases are covered,

Nothing can go wrong

When it is going so well.

But who can tell

What it will take,

For even the

Best of times

To change.

It has happened before

Hard luck is no stranger,

You really should know

By now,

That just when it appears

Life has turned a corner,

You are blown

Off course,

By the pace of

Something coming

At you

From so far left field

You are swept to the side

Of the road.

With more than ego,

Seriously hurt,

Eating dirt.

And blaming yourself.

Even when

Your head aches

And you had no idea

What you would face

Around the next turn,

Beyond the brow

Of a distant hill,

Flying out,

On your blind side.

You really should

Have learned

Your lesson,

However hard

It may be,

Whatever else

In life you

Think you know,

What you do,

Or where you go,

Remember,

At the very least,

In this life,

You must,

Come to expect

The wholly unexpected.