Life and the choices

A man stood at the edge of time casting his shadow back upon me
under his feet the wooden pier of life his only connection to the shore
as he cast his eyes about towards the washed water colorer gray sea
his hands never moved from his side even as he kept his head held high
his ramrod stance spoke, where mere words would not, could not convey all he felt
before him stretched out all eternity and life's endless possibilities

White caps lapped at the pylons below us as my own mind question, purgatory?
sea foam froth white formed iridescent bubbles like a spawned frogs egg mass
looking down and into the mass I heard the man take a sharp intake of breathe
he viewed his pass and the roads he had choose to follow in their inner glow
a soft smile filled his face and then a frown soon followed in quick succession

A man desired to step out into time then he saw empty rowboats bobbing, bobbing
in the water afar, had others before him set sail from this very pier of life
not knowing what might have happened to the passengers he hesitated
then the cool spray of the waters caressed his face and swaddled his body
and he knew this is how it should be, this is how we all start in self awareness

Perked his ears heard for the first time the Cannonade roar but the waters were still
what he saw did not mesh with the sounds and then he understood
the sounds were of pass, present and future all in this place on the pier of life
my own fear grew for I knew I was next to step forward to the edge of the pier
would I have the strength to step off or would I too stand frozen just as he
before I could divine I heard him laugh and with arms raise he disappeared from view