Or I Will

She is in her 50s
Driving on a logging
Road in the Gila Wilderness
Her husband by her and her two
Teenage granddaughters in the
Back seat bickering as dark
Evening approaches they
All watch a herd of elk
Bolt across a small
Meadow at our
Approach and
She tells her
Two strong
Granddaughters
To stop fighting or
She will stop the car
And leave them by the
Side of the road to walk out
Of the wilderness a mile around
The bend in the road but they
Bicker again so she stops
The car and leaves them
In the dusk to hurry on
As they know what is
Hunting in the night
In the wilderness.
When they catch
Up to the car
She says to
Them quiet
Or I will
Leave
You
By
The road
And they now
Believe her as I
Smile at them
Knowing this
Will help
Them
Along
Their road
In life even if
It takes them
Through the dark
Wilderness,
Tangle
With these
Two at your
Peril and if they
Ever say “or I will”
It would be
Best to
Listen.