I hear a voice carried on the wind and I wonder,
whose it is and whether it's calling out to me.
I sit here on this park bench like I do every day,
coffee in one hand and my morning paper in the other.
I read about all of the chaos in this world,
it brings tears to my eyes knowing it's getting worse.
So many murderers, arsonists, drug traffickers, and kidnappers.
People who disrespect and steal money from others every day.
Money that they haven’t earned and have no intention to repay,
it’s quite an insult to those of us who have worked so hard.
It breaks down the trust and understanding that you have,
you can only hope that one day it will all disappear.
There's a story of a beautiful young woman who was abducted,
all she wanted was to get home from a trying day at work.
Her body was later found in this park that I am at,
it makes me wonder if it was her voice I heard just minutes ago.
I can only hope that she is floating peacefully on a cloud,
making her way to that magical place that we call Heaven.
I take the last sip of my coffee and put my paper away.
Walking through the park I see the figure of a woman in the distance.
Beautiful red dress flowing in the wind,
I hear that old voice again as I approach her.
I extend my hand and politely introduce myself to her,
like a pole she sits upright in absolute silence.
I move to touch her shoulder and to my surprise,
pieces of her body start to fall all over the ground.
The wind blows hard and quickly carries her body away,
I stand in shock as my heart beats uncontrollably.
I close my eyes and ask God why this is happening.
Why this life that we are living is leading to nowhere?
I feel a tap on my shoulder and quickly turn around,
but there’s no one standing there, it’s just me.
This place is so beautiful yet, it feels so haunted.
I have come here for years and have never felt this way.
It makes me feel like there is no compassion left in the world,
but I have to believe in my heart that there is.
It’s these feelings and concerns that drive me each day,
as I try my best to learn and improve in my life.
I can only hope that I can touch others and help them,
through this trying ordeal that we have brought upon ourselves.
I continue walking and finally reach the end of the park,
I take one last look at it and bid it farewell.
I pray that each life that it holds in its fury,
will someday be set free to rest in peace.
Life is so precious and we only get one chance at it.
So live your life to the fullest and be supportive of others.
Help to guide those who stumble and fall along the way.
Be a shoulder to cry on and touch as many hearts as you can.
Author notes
Prompt: "echoes in the wind"
or the image above.
A contest entry
- Sunday Best Quickie by Errant Panther.
470 points, ended October 31, 2007, 12 entries
Honorable mention
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - GET NOTICED!!!! by Nighttime angel.
625 points, ended January 13, 2008, 88 entries
Honorable mention
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Friends, I appreciate your comments and review on this write. However, please do not add my name to your comments due to the contest rules. Thank you very much!
Comments
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this is a deep and moving poem. you have captivated my attention and held it through out this poem. you did an excellent job on writing this. I applaud you many times over. amazing what one finds while just sitting on a park bench in a park.. there are so many things that are surrounding us that we are unaware of.
good luck in the contest.
kat
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captivating yet haunting imagery tangos through the mind like an autumn wind, very well versed and thought out. best wishes to you.
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Again...
...Another excellent piece! powerful and involving, even a little hint of hope...Just excellent! good luck in the contest!
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prompt is posted now as it's taking too long to fill.
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