'Wake Up Jeffery I Have An Assignment For You' Poem by Luke Easter

The alarm sounds @ 4: 00am, it’s time to rise, dress and eat,
I-95 South on the turnpike, still tasting cinnamon sweet,
A SUV swerved in front of me, left to right, almost on top,
Visualization of an accident, blood cleaned up with a mop.

Was it he or could I have somehow been the negligent one?
Had it not been early to bed for me we both would’ve been done,
Pulled up on his right, sure enough he was almost in sleep mode,
An almost morning newsflash, two vehicles collide and explode.

Of all the clothes we wear, our expression is the most important thing,
Every where I go, no matter the situation, a smile I’m known to bring,
Blowing my horn, I jarred his memory to a realization of where we are,
From the expression on his face it seemed like he had just left the bar.

Pointing to the next exit motioning for him to get off this isn’t the end,
Spirit inside hinted this guy was headed for trouble and needed a friend,
Approached his truck, a window came down followed by slurred speech,
Said his name apologetically now it’s my turn, “Hi! I’m Jeff Ricky Cheeks.”

He was looking kind of ragged so I invited him to have a hot cup of Joe,
I knew of a quiet 24-hour coffee shop with less than half a mile to go,
Suggested he follow me because I would drive the exact posted speed,
From my work within the church I could tell he needed a friend indeed.

“Sooner or later” pastor said, you’d have a chance to show your ministry,
Now the Lord had put the fate of this young man directly in front of me,
We ordered and I listened patiently as his tale began to unfold in flight,
Broken home, failed marriage, lost his job, will anything ever be right?

The story was a lifetime of sadness deluged with heartache and sorrow,
With intentions to end life this morning, he wanted no more tomorrows,
It was my turn & I looked straight in his eyes reciting the Lord’s Prayer,
I finished quoting scripture 2 hours later he realized someone did care.

We drank about gallon of wake me up but I dared not leave till being sure,
He’d never attempt to hurt himself or anyone then I walked out the door,
Promising to attend church Sunday and just to be safe I gave him a ride,
Well aware the evil one would do his absolute best to slither back inside.

It has been three years since that almost disastrous death-defying day,
Married to a girl he met in bible study, their second child is on the way,
There is a lot to write and as with any story the last is always the best,
I practically cry when hearing their daughter say, “Hi ya godfather Jeff.”

w/Jeff Ricky Cheeks