If you had just taken that second,
To watch your hand before you tipped the glass over,
And spilt the juice over your white dress.
If you had just taken that precaution,
To look down and notice the gutter,
Before you got your heel caught between its ridges.
Then you never would’ve met the pleasant stranger,
Who offered you his kerchief to wipe off the stain,
And kneeled down to free your shoe from its restraint.
If you had looked back over your shoulder,
In desperate measure to flag down the empty taxi,
That had rushed past you without giving you a chance.
If you had stapled your papers they would not have wavered,
Blown by the rush of wind following the insensitive taxi driver,
Who had not even given you a second glance.
Then you never would’ve met the pleasant stranger,
Who ran after your papers and reorganized the whole pile,
And offered you a ride that was out of his way about twenty miles.
If you had known it was going to rain,
You would’ve brought an umbrella,
To keep you dry till you reached your destination.
If you had known it was going to pour,
You would’ve stayed at your post until the droplets cleared,
To save you from probable pneumonia.
Then you never would’ve met the pleasant stranger,
Who gave you his raincoat to shelter you from the rain.
And bought you hot chocolate at the nearest café.
You’ll never learn the tricks of the trade,
You’ll never know what’s right unless you feel it,
You’ll never ask the questions if you don’t want to know the answers,
You’ll never see the light unless it blinds you,
You’ll never feel the breeze until it hits you,
You’ll never know an accident until it happens,
You’ll never find the pleasant stranger if you look for him...
He finds you.
