“The Number” | 3rd Place
Laura Lisbeth
Kansas City, Missouri

An old man sat next to me
At a bar down town
He smelled of sweat as he
rolled his own cigarettes
He started talking to anyone
Who would listen at the time
He said I can’t drink anymore
‘Cause somewhere I crossed the line
And let me tell you something
I could never know it then
But everything has its limit
Everything comes to an end

Then he said there is a number
Not everybody knows
Once you reach it
You have to let go
You can pray with the faith of angels
Race against the tide
But you can’t change that number
Believe me, I’ve tried

What if life is like this
And a number does exist
For everything single thing
You’ll ever do
How many times, will you come home
Kiss a baby, pick up a phone
You only get so many then you’re through

Cause I hear there is a number
Not everybody knows
Once you reach it, then just let go
Pray with the faith of angels
Race against the tide
But you can’t change that number baby,
Believe me I’ve tried

Let me tell you something
I could never know it then
Everything reaches its limit
Everything comes to an end

Now it’s come down to this
So I take her hand and kiss it,
And I cry, please don’t leave me
She says child, understand
I can tell my time’s at hand
So take your comfort and don’t grieve me

Cause, she said, there is a number
Not everybody knows
Once you reach it just let it go
Pray with the faith of angels
Race against the tide
But you can’t change that number darlin,
Believe me ………………………

Yeah tell me there’s a number
Not everybody knows
Once you reach it you have to let go
You can pray with the faith of angels
And race against the tide
But you can’t change that number baby,
Believe me, I’ve tried