God Told Me to Turnaround

Summary

The poem "God Told Me to Turnaround" recounts the author's personal experience of divine intervention preventing them from witnessing a fatal car accident involving a friend.

Abstract

"God Told Me to Turnaround" is a poignant poem that reflects on a moment of divine intervention in the author's life. The author, who was 16 at the time, sent a page to a friend and soon heard sirens from the local fire hall. Despite an urge to investigate, the author was divinely directed to turn back while walking towards the scene of the commotion. This intervention spared the author from the traumatic sight of their friend's fatal car accident, which the author's brother, a volunteer firefighter, had to report. The poem is a tribute to the author's friend and a testament to the mysterious ways in which a higher power can offer protection and solace in times of tragedy.

Opinions

The author expresses a deep sense of gratitude for the divine intervention that spared them from witnessing the tragic accident.
There is an underlying sentiment of disbelief and shock at the improbability of the sirens being related to the author's friend.
The poem conveys the author's struggle to come to terms with the reality of the situation, as evidenced by their initial disbelief and the wish that their brother had lied about the accident.
The author acknowledges the small-town setting where such an event stirs significant interest and speculation among residents.
The poem suggests a profound connection between the author and their friend, emphasizing the emotional impact of the loss.
There is a sense of respect and reverence for the author's brother, who had the difficult task of informing the author of their friend's death.
The author's experience is presented as a sign or message from a higher power, indicating a personal belief in divine guidance and protection.

A poem of divine intervention

I did what you asked. I sent you a page. Deafening silence ensued. So my mind began to race.

Fire whistles screamed from Markle Fire Hall pleading volunteers to help. My brother jumped in his car.

The odds were one in a million, no way the sirens were for you. I fired off another page. No way this could be true.

I started walking down Rich Hill Road to see. Where were all the trucks going? An uncanny feeling flooded me.

I arrived at the stop sign of Markle and Rich Hill. God tapped me on the shoulder and told me to stand still.

Turnaround my son, this you don’t need to see. Walk back to your home. Please trust and listen to me.

My brother got home. I wish he would’ve lied. Sorry buddy it was Amanda’s car She didn’t make it and died.

Author’s notes — This poem is also about my friend’s fatal car accident that I wrote about in The Blood Stain. My brother was a volunteer firefighter in our town. He was at the scene of the fatal accident and was the one who broke the news of her death to me. We lived in a very small town, so the commotion stirred a lot of interest. The day this happened, I was supposed to send my friend a page when I got home from a soccer game, and we were going to hang out that night. I sent the page around 5:45 PM, and the sirens started going off at 6:05 PM.

I walked about a mile towards the sirens to see what was happening. At the intersection of Rich Hill and Markle Road, there is a hillside to the left where the road curves. From where I was standing at the stop sign, you cannot see over the hill and around the bend. At the time, I was not aware that it was my friend who crashed. I was only 16 when this happened, but the eerie feeling and voice that told me to turn around saved me from witnessing the fatal crash site, and I will be forever grateful for that sign.

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God Told Me to Turnaround

A poem of divine intervention

The Blood Stain

A poem about my friend’s fatal car accident.