Toss of a Coin

The Toss of a Coin

On February 3rd, 1959 Tommy

Allsup lost the coin toss that

would have put him on the

airplane that crashed killing

Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and

“The Big Bopper”- P.J. Richardson

So much was at stake

when the coin was tossed,

neither man aware

of the significance a win

or loss would have on their

own life, the lives of those

they loved and of all those

that loved these three.

No one expected that a

great loss was looming

only hours ahead.

One that would shock

a nation of music fans

and close the book on

a short career, so full

of promise.

Tommy was spared by

the loss of the coin toss.

The outcome for the others

was going to be the same

either way: they having

apparently lost a toss at

some higher level to which

there was no second chance.

            W.E. Hudson

            First published in Lyrical Iowa