THE MAN HE NEVER WAS
He saw the way his Dad
came home drunk every night
how Mom was scared and crying
after each and every fight
He saw his older sister
getting knocked 'round by him too
But he was so young back then
wasn't much that he could do
He held their hands as they wept
and listened to all they said
The sadness in his heart for them
burned deep inside his head
He grew up knowing it was wrong
what Dad did to the family
each day he reminded himself of
the man he would not be
As he grew he did his best
at everything he did
soon he was a grown man
not a frightened little kid
Back from a tour in the army
he wanted to visit his Mom
That's when his older sister
told him what went wrong
Seems Dad came home again
drunk and half out of his mind
when his anger once more flared
he thought Mom would do just fine
But Mom had had enough
of what Dad was always dealing
She pulled the trigger and Dad's head
went all over the ceiling
Now he see's her every Sunday
like a good son always does
and she tells him she is thankful of
the man he never was
Posted for http://onestoppoetry.com/2011/03/one-shot-poetry-wednesday-celebrating-our-36th-week.html#comment-7045
Great write JL.
ReplyDeletePowerful. Like Father like Son, they say, but in this instance...thank God it wasn't true. So many times you hear this tale, of a soul pushed to the edge by someone they love...how can one human so batter another? It boggles the mind. Yet you have given us a very emotional piece to capture the madness of the situation.
ReplyDeletestrong write...there is a point of no return
ReplyDelete"the man he would not be"...easier said than done
Peace, hp
snap. intense and vivid...and i cant feel sorry for him...other than i wonder who taught it to him...
ReplyDeleteJL, So powerful!
ReplyDelete"When you know better, you do better..."
~ Maya Angelou"
♥ ஆεlεɳa ~.^
You are Amazing, I never get my fill of your work.. This has such a powerful meaning and a strong poem.. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteA touching, poetical story. well said, I enjoyed. JH
ReplyDeleteThis powerful and poignant. The imagery sort of knocks you out. Excellent job.
ReplyDeleteWell written and thought provoking piece.
ReplyDeleteI admire people who, after having been brought up in abusive/dysfunctional families, make a conscious effort and stick to becoming and being better than the parental examples they had growing up. Indeed, thought provoking.
ReplyDeleteThank you all so very much !
ReplyDeleteWhat a moving and powerful write, JL... and what a turn the story took! But I guess all that happens, happens for the best (except for the abuse)...
ReplyDeleteCheers to the son (and all those) who, never allowed childhood abuse to stop him from becoming a better "human being"...
Very poignant..
Wow. This so powerful, and the title is perfect. I used to live near a women's state prison. I often wondered how many of the inmates chose living in prison over death at at home.
ReplyDelete